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Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

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In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).Mechanisms of Genetic VariationThe original sources of genetic variation are mutations,...

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The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
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Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

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The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

The centromere paradox: stable inheritance with rapidly evolving DNA.

S Henikoff¹, K Ahmad, H S Malik

¹Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Laboratories, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|August 11, 2001

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Eukaryotic chromosomes rely on centromeres for proper segregation during cell division. Rapid evolution of centromeric chromatin may drive species divergence and reproductive isolation.

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Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

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Area of Science:

Genetics
Cell Biology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Centromeres are essential chromosomal regions for accurate segregation during mitosis and meiosis in eukaryotes.
While DNA sequences traditionally define genetic loci, centromeres are increasingly understood to be epigenetically inherited via chromatin.
The molecular machinery for chromosome segregation is conserved, yet centromeric DNA and protein components evolve rapidly.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of chromatin-based inheritance in centromere specification.
To explore the evolutionary dynamics of centromeric components and their potential impact on speciation.

Main Methods:

Analysis of conserved chromosome segregation machinery.
Comparative genomics and proteomics of centromeric chromatin across eukaryotic species.
Investigating incompatibilities between rapidly evolving centromeric factors.

Main Results:

Evidence supports a chromatin-based inheritance model for centromere identity over DNA sequence.
Rapid evolution was observed in specific DNA and protein components of centromeric chromatin.
Potential incompatibilities between these evolving components were identified.

Conclusions:

Centromere function relies on a chromatin-based epigenetic mechanism rather than fixed DNA sequences.
Rapid evolution of centromeric chromatin components may lead to incompatibilities.
These incompatibilities could contribute to the organization of centromeric regions and reproductive isolation in nascent species.