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Proofreading

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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 2026

Rare Event Detection Using Error-corrected DNA and RNA Sequencing

Rare Event Detection Using Error-corrected DNA and RNA Sequencing

Published on: August 3, 2018

Evolution of error correction through a need for speed.

Riccardo Ravasio¹, Kabir Husain^1,2, Constantine G Evans³

¹Department of Physics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|February 19, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Kinetic proofreading, a biological error correction, can evolve for speed, not just accuracy. By stalling after errors, it paradoxically accelerates processes like replication and molecular assembly.

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Molecular Biology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Kinetic proofreading is a biological mechanism that uses energy to minimize errors during crucial molecular processes.
It is generally assumed that proofreading evolves when the need for high fidelity surpasses the energetic and speed costs.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether kinetic proofreading can evolve under selection for speed alone, even without direct fidelity advantages.
To explore analogous error-correction mechanisms in multicomponent self-assembly driven by selection for rapid assembly.

Main Methods:

Theoretical modeling of kinetic proofreading incorporating post-misincorporation stalling.
Generalization of the model to multicomponent self-assembly processes.

Main Results:

Proofreading can accelerate replication when stalling after misincorporations is considered.
Selection for speed alone can drive the evolution of kinetic proofreading, contrary to previous assumptions.
Analogous error-correction mechanisms, like dynamic instability, can emerge from selection for rapid assembly.

Conclusions:

Non-equilibrium error correction can evolve driven by selection for speed, independent of direct fidelity benefits.
Findings have implications for understanding mutation rate evolution, molecular assembly, and early life.
Kinetic proofreading may evolve as a strategy to enhance the speed of biological processes.