Accumulation of spontaneous mutations in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila

• Published in: Genetics (Austin) Vol. 195; no. 2; pp. 527 - 540
• Main Authors: Long, Hong-An, Paixão, Tiago, Azevedo, Ricardo B R, Zufall, Rebecca A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Genetics Society of America 01.10.2013
• Subjects: Bacteria; Eukaryota; Evolution, Molecular; Genetic Fitness; Genome; Genomes; Germ-Line Mutation - genetics; Homozygote; Investigations; Mutagenesis; Mutation; Mutation Rate; Protozoa; Selection, Genetic - genetics; Sequence Deletion - genetics; Tetrahymena thermophila; Tetrahymena thermophila - genetics; deleterious mutation rate; mutational robustness; dominance; lethal mutations; protist

Knowledge of the rate and fitness effects of mutations is essential for understanding the process of evolution. Mutations are inherently difficult to study because they are rare and are frequently eliminated by natural selection. In the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, mutations can accumulate in th...