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Evidence of selection on silent site base composition in mammals: potential implications for the evolution of isochores and junk DNA

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 19:16 authored by Adam Eyre-WalkerAdam Eyre-Walker
It has been suggested that mutation bias is the major determinant of base composition bias at synonymous, intron, and flanking DNA sites in mammals. Here I test this hypothesis using population genetic data from the major histocompatibility genes of several mammalian species. The results of two tests are inconsistent with the mutation hypothesis in coding, noncoding, CpG-island, and non-CpG-island DNA, but are consistent with selection or biased gene conversion. It is argued that biased gene conversion is unlikely to affect silent site base composition in mammals. The results therefore suggest that selection is acting upon silent site G + C content. This may have broad implications, since silent site base composition reflects large- scale variation in G + C content along mammalian chromosomes. The results therefore suggest that selection may be acting upon the base composition of isochores and large sections of junk DNA.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Genetics

ISSN

0016-6731

Publisher

Genetics Society of America

Issue

2

Volume

152

Page range

675-683

ISBN

0016-6731

Department affiliated with

  • Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications

Notes

The first population genetic evidence that silent site base composition is not caused by mutation bias in mammals

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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