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Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
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).
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,...
Evolutionary Processes in Microbes01:26

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Mutation rate evolution in replicator dynamics.

Benjamin Allen1, Daniel I Scholes Rosenbloom

  • 1Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. benjcallen@gmail.com

Bulletin of Mathematical Biology
|September 4, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mutation rates can evolve based on internal population dynamics. In cyclical trait interactions, higher mutation rates can be favored, challenging the idea that mutation rates always evolve to zero.

More Related Videos

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay
07:44

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay
07:44

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Theoretical ecology
  • Population genetics

Background:

  • Mutation rates are evolvable traits, typically predicted to decrease to zero in stable environments.
  • Previous research focused on external environmental fluctuations, not internal population dynamics.
  • Frequency-dependent selection within a population can create internal environmental fluctuations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how frequency-dependent selection, arising from competing traits, influences mutation rates.
  • To explore the selective pressures on mutation rates when these rates are linked to trait dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a theoretical framework integrating replicator dynamics and adaptive dynamics.
  • Analyzed pairwise competition between strains with different mutation rates.
  • Assumed mutation rate changes are rare compared to trait evolution.

Main Results:

  • Mutation rates can be displaced by lower rates at mutation-selection equilibrium.
  • Higher mutation rates (mutator strains) can be favored in cyclical trait dynamics (e.g., rock-paper-scissors).
  • Zero and non-zero mutation rates can coexist when selection alone maintains trait diversity.

Conclusions:

  • Internal population dynamics, specifically cyclical trait interactions, can drive the evolution of higher mutation rates.
  • The study highlights the role of frequency-dependent selection in shaping mutation rate evolution.
  • Findings suggest that high mutation rates may be prevalent in populations with cyclical trait dynamics.