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Related Concept Videos

Mutations in Microorganisms01:18

Mutations in Microorganisms

Mutations are heritable changes in an organism’s genome involving alterations in the base sequence of DNA or RNA. These changes can influence cellular processes and phenotypic traits, potentially transforming the unaltered wild type into a mutant form. Such changes, termed forward mutations, are pivotal in shaping the genetic diversity of organisms.RNA viruses exhibit the highest mutation rates due to the absence of robust proofreading mechanisms during genome replication. In contrast,...
Lethal Alleles02:41

Lethal Alleles

Agouti: A Lethal Allele
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
In-vitro Mutagenesis01:16

In-vitro Mutagenesis

To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
In vitro Mutagenesis01:16

In vitro Mutagenesis

To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...

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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Identifying DNA Mutations in Purified Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells
11:06

Identifying DNA Mutations in Purified Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells

Published on: February 24, 2014

Lethal mutagenesis and evolutionary epidemiology.

Guillaume Martin1, Sylvain Gandon

  • 1Institut Des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier II--CNRS (UMR 5554), 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. guillaume.martin@univ-montp2.fr

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|May 19, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Lethal mutagenesis uses mutagens to increase harmful mutations, potentially eradicating pathogens. This study models pathogen extinction, predicting density decreases with mutation rates and identifying critical rates for therapeutic strategies.

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Mutagenesis and Functional Selection Protocols for Directed Evolution of Proteins in E. coli
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Mutagenesis and Functional Selection Protocols for Directed Evolution of Proteins in E. coli

Published on: March 16, 2011

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Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Identifying DNA Mutations in Purified Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells
11:06

Identifying DNA Mutations in Purified Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells

Published on: February 24, 2014

Mutagenesis and Functional Selection Protocols for Directed Evolution of Proteins in E. coli
09:01

Mutagenesis and Functional Selection Protocols for Directed Evolution of Proteins in E. coli

Published on: March 16, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The lethal mutagenesis hypothesis suggests increasing harmful mutations can eliminate pathogens.
  • Previous models for lethal mutagenesis often used limiting assumptions.
  • Understanding the theoretical basis of lethal mutagenesis is crucial for therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a more comprehensive model for lethal mutagenesis.
  • To investigate the relationship between mutation rate and pathogen extinction.
  • To assess the therapeutic potential of lethal mutagenesis against viral infections.

Main Methods:

  • Derived genetic load dynamics using a multivariate Gaussian fitness landscape.
  • Incorporated deleterious, beneficial (compensatory), and lethal mutations.
  • Coupled evolutionary and epidemiological models to simulate within-host pathogen dynamics.
  • Derived epidemiological and evolutionary equilibrium and critical mutation rates.

Main Results:

  • Pathogen density decreases linearly with the genomic mutation rate (U) at equilibrium.
  • Provided a simple expression for the critical mutation rate required for extinction.
  • Model predictions showed accuracy across a wide range of parameters via stochastic simulations.
  • Quantitative predictions for critical mutation rates were made for several viruses.

Conclusions:

  • The developed model accurately predicts pathogen extinction dynamics based on measurable parameters.
  • Lethal mutagenesis shows promise as a therapeutic strategy, with extinction dependent on the critical mutation rate.
  • The study provides a framework for evaluating the feasibility of lethal mutagenesis for various viral pathogens.