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Abstract / Description of output
We explore factors affecting patterns of polymorphism and divergence (as captured by the neutrality index) at mammalian mitochondrial loci. To do this, we develop a population genetic model that incorporates a fraction of neutral amino acid sites, mutational bias, and a probability distribution of selection coefficients against new nonsynonymous mutations. We confirm, by reanalyzing publicly available data sets, that the mitochondrial cyt-b gene shows a broad range of neutrality indices across mammalian taxa, and explore the biological factors that can explain this observation. We find that observed patterns of differences in the neutrality index, polymorphism and divergence are not caused by differences in mutational bias. They can, however, be explained by a combination of a small fraction of neutral amino acid sites, weak selection acting on most amino acid mutations, and differences in effective population size among taxa.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2427-2438 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Evolution: International Journal of Organic Evolution |
Volume | 66 |
Issue number | 8 |
Early online date | 11 Apr 2012 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 30 Aug 2012 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Gamma distribution
- log-normal distribution
- mitochondrial genome
- neutrality index
- population genetics
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Dive into the research topics of 'The relation between the neutrality index for mitochondrial genes and the distribution of mutational effects on fitness'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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The evolutionary genomics of X chromosomes
Charlesworth, B., Betancourt, A. J. & Marion de Proce, S.
5/12/08 → 4/03/12
Project: Research