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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,...
Mismatch Repair01:20

Mismatch Repair

Organisms are capable of detecting and fixing nucleotide mismatches that occur during DNA replication. This sophisticated process requires identifying the new strand and replacing the erroneous bases with correct nucleotides. Mismatch repair is coordinated by many proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview
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).

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay
07:44

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

Genomic mutation rates that neutralize adaptive evolution and natural selection.

Philip J Gerrish1, Alexandre Colato, Paul D Sniegowski

  • 1Department of Biology, Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, 230 Castetter Hall, MSC03-2020, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. pgerrish@unm.edu

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|May 31, 2013
PubMed
Summary

High mutation rates can hinder evolution by overwhelming natural selection with harmful mutations. This can neutralize adaptive evolution or cause beneficial mutations to be lost, slowing down or reversing adaptation.

Keywords:
Fisher's fundamental theorembeneficial mutationserror thresholdmutagenesispopulation genetics

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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay
07:44

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

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

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Population genetics
  • Theoretical biology

Background:

  • Natural selection drives adaptation by favoring beneficial mutations.
  • Mutation rate is a critical factor influencing evolutionary trajectories.
  • Excessive mutation can introduce deleterious mutations, potentially counteracting selection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To mathematically define the mutation rates at which adaptive evolution or natural selection becomes neutralized.
  • To analyze the impact of varying mutation rates on evolutionary outcomes in asexual populations.
  • To provide simple expressions for identifying critical mutation rate thresholds.

Main Methods:

  • Application of a standard mathematical model for asexual adaptive evolution.
  • Derivation of expressions to delineate mutation rates causing neutralization of selection or adaptation.
  • Analysis of theoretical conditions for evolutionary stasis or decline due to high mutation.

Main Results:

  • Identified specific mutation rate thresholds where adaptive evolution can be neutralized.
  • Demonstrated conditions where natural selection is overwhelmed by deleterious mutations.
  • Derived simple mathematical expressions, independent of organism-specific parameters, for these thresholds.

Conclusions:

  • Mutation rates critically influence the efficacy of natural selection and the rate of adaptation.
  • Extremely high mutation rates can lead to a breakdown of adaptive evolution.
  • The derived expressions offer a general framework for understanding mutation-driven evolutionary limits.