Hearing silence: non-neutral evolution at synonymous sites in mammals

• Published in: Nature reviews. Genetics Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 98 - 108
• Main Authors: Chamary, J. V., Parmley, Joanna L., Hurst, Laurence D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.02.2006; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Agriculture; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer Research; Evolution, Molecular; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Function; Gene Silencing; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Human Genetics; Humans; Mammals - genetics; Mutation; review-article; Selection, Genetic; Molecular evolution; Vertebrata; Hearing; Mammalia

Contrary to the neutral theory, silent mutations can be under natural selection. This is often seen in organisms from large populations, but the authors present evidence that it also occurs in mammals, because synonymous mutations affect mRNA stability and splicing. Key Points Synonymous mutations i...