Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

From DNA to Protein03:06

From DNA to Protein

The flow of genetic information in cells from DNA to mRNA to protein is described by the central dogma, which states that genes specify the sequence of mRNAs, which in turn specify the sequence of amino acids making up all proteins. The decoding of one molecule to another is performed by specific proteins and RNAs. Because the information stored in DNA is so central to cellular function, it makes intuitive sense that the cell would make mRNA copies of this information for protein synthesis...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

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.
In contrast, regions which code...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

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.
In contrast, regions which code...
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

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,...
Transfer RNA Synthesis02:36

Transfer RNA Synthesis

One of the unique features of tRNA is the presence of modified bases. In some tRNAs, modified bases account for nearly 20% of the total bases in the molecule. Altogether, these unusual bases protect the tRNA from enzymatic degradation by RNases.
Each of these chemical modifications is carried by a specific enzyme, post-transcription. All of these enzymes have unique base and site-specificity. Methylation, the most common chemical modification, is carried by at least nine different enzymes, with...
Transfer RNA Synthesis02:36

Transfer RNA Synthesis

One of the unique features of tRNA is the presence of modified bases. In some tRNAs, modified bases account for nearly 20% of the total bases in the molecule. Altogether, these unusual bases protect the tRNA from enzymatic degradation by RNases.
Each of these chemical modifications is carried by a specific enzyme, post-transcription. All of these enzymes have unique base and site-specificity. Methylation, the most common chemical modification, is carried by at least nine different enzymes, with...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

CCDC25 regulates sepsis-associated liver injury via neutrophil extracellular traps.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Functional group position directs interfacial adsorption and molecular assembly: A structure-interface relationship established from isomeric fatty acid/Ester pairs.

Journal of colloid and interface science·2026
Same author

Nucleic sexual hormone receptor signaling pathways in breast cancer: function regulation, crosstalk, and therapeutic implications.

NPJ precision oncology·2026
Same author

Stellate ganglion block attenuates gut barrier injury in sleep-deprived rats in a gut microbiota-dependent manner.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

[Analysis and management of the influence of periapical lesion size on endodontic microsurgery].

Hua xi kou qiang yi xue za zhi = Huaxi kouqiang yixue zazhi = West China journal of stomatology·2026
Same author

Doppler vibration measurement with a miniaturized slant-ended fiber.

Applied optics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers
10:41

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers

Published on: June 24, 2019

Forces that influence the evolution of codon bias.

Paul M Sharp1, Laura R Emery, Kai Zeng

  • 1Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, , Kings Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK. paul.sharp@ed.ac.uk

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|March 24, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Natural selection influences codon usage in bacteria, favoring translational efficiency, especially in fast-growing species. This selection strength correlates with bacterial growth rates, impacting gene expression.

More Related Videos

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio
12:31

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio

Published on: August 24, 2013

Measurement of Specific Mycobacterial Mistranslation Rates with Gain-of-function Reporter Systems
06:18

Measurement of Specific Mycobacterial Mistranslation Rates with Gain-of-function Reporter Systems

Published on: April 26, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers
10:41

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers

Published on: June 24, 2019

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio
12:31

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio

Published on: August 24, 2013

Measurement of Specific Mycobacterial Mistranslation Rates with Gain-of-function Reporter Systems
06:18

Measurement of Specific Mycobacterial Mistranslation Rates with Gain-of-function Reporter Systems

Published on: April 26, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Synonymous codon frequencies vary across species and within genomes, suggesting natural selection's role.
  • Previous studies inferred selection from codon usage patterns, but mutation bias also plays a part.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the role of natural selection in shaping codon usage bias in bacteria.
  • To quantify the strength of selection on codon usage and its correlation with bacterial growth rate.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed intragenomic variation in codon usage bias across bacterial species.
  • Estimated selection strength using two approaches: bias in highly expressed genes vs. lowly expressed genes, and bias at polymorphic sites.
  • Analyzed frequency spectra of optimal codons at polymorphic sites.

Main Results:

  • Intragenomic codon usage variation aligns with selection for translationally optimal codons.
  • Inter-species variation is partly explained by biased mutation patterns.
  • Selection strength on codon usage is strongly correlated with bacterial growth rate.
  • Analysis of polymorphic sites confirmed ongoing selection, consistent with equilibrium models.

Conclusions:

  • Natural selection favors translational efficiency in bacteria, with stronger selection in faster-growing species.
  • Selection on codon usage is evident in highly expressed genes, particularly in Escherichia coli.
  • Selection is significantly weaker for genes with low expression levels.