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The modern molecular clock.

Lindell Bromham1, David Penny

  • 1Centre for the Study of Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK. l.d.bromham@sussex.ac.uk

Nature Reviews. Genetics
|March 1, 2003
PubMed
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The molecular clock, a tool for molecular evolution, revealed a constant rate of change, likely due to neutral gene mutations. This discovery aids in estimating evolutionary timelines and testing biological hypotheses.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Molecular evolution
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The molecular clock concept posits a relatively constant rate of molecular evolution.
  • Understanding the mechanisms driving molecular evolution is crucial for evolutionary studies.
  • Neutral theory provides a framework for explaining the observed constancy in molecular evolution.

Observation:

  • The discovery of the molecular clock offered significant insights into molecular evolution.
  • An unexpected constancy in the rate of molecular evolution was observed.
  • Most genetic changes are hypothesized to be effectively neutral, explaining this constancy.

Findings:

  • The molecular clock is a powerful tool in modern biology.
  • Theory predicts variations in the rate of molecular evolution.

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  • Even an approximate molecular clock enables time estimations for evolutionary events.

    • Implications:

    • The molecular clock facilitates testing diverse biological hypotheses.
    • It aids in understanding the origins of major animal groups.
    • It provides a method for studying the emergence of viral epidemics.