The Neutral Theory of Molecular EvolutionMotoo Kimura, as founder of the neutral theory, is uniquely placed to write this book. He first proposed the theory in 1968 to explain the unexpectedly high rate of evolutionary change and very large amount of intraspecific variability at the molecular level that had been uncovered by new techniques in molecular biology. The theory - which asserts that the great majority of evolutionary changes at the molecular level are caused not by Darwinian selection but by random drift of selectively neutral mutants - has caused controversy ever since. This book is the first comprehensive treatment of this subject and the author synthesises a wealth of material - ranging from a historical perspective, through recent molecular discoveries, to sophisticated mathematical arguments - all presented in a most lucid manner. |
What people are saying - Write a review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - amarcobio - LibraryThingI may be biased but I think this is an essential book to understand evolution. It is true that some pieces may be a bit out of date, the the whole book is still scientifically sound. The text is clear ... Read full review
Contents
From Lamarck to population genetics | 1 |
Overdevelopment of the synthetic theory and the proposal of | 15 |
The neutral mutationrandom drift hypothesis as an evolutionary | 34 |
Molecular evolutionary rates contrasted with phenotypic evolu | 55 |
Some features of molecular evolution | 98 |
Definition types and action of natural selection | 117 |
Molecular structure selective constraint and the rate of evolution | 149 |
Population genetics at the molecular level | 194 |
Maintenance of genetic variability at the molecular level | 253 |
Summary and conclusion | 305 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
According adaptive advantage alleles amino acid appears assume average average heterozygosity base becomes called cause chapter chromosome claim codon coefficient compared consider consistent corresponding deleterious denote discussed distribution Drosophila duplication effective enzyme equal equation estimate evidence evolution evolutionary rate example existence expected explained fact fitness fixation follows formula frequency function gene gene frequency genetic given globin hand hemoglobin heterozygosity higher human hypothesis important increases individuals involved Kimura larger less loci locus mammals mean method million molecular molecule mutant substitutions mutation rate natural selection neutral mutations neutral theory Note nucleotide observed obtained occur Ohta organisms overdominance phenotypic polymorphism population position possible present probability problem produced protein random relative represents sample selectively neutral sequences shown similar species structure studies substitutions suggested synonymous Table turned variability variance various
Popular passages
Page 342 - Gilbert, W. (1977) A new method for sequencing DNA. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74, 560-564.
Page 330 - Cordell, B., Bell, G. Tischer, E., DeNoto, FM, Ullrich, A., Pictet, R., Rutter, WJ & Goodman, HM (1979).
Page 347 - Dennis. 1979. Nucleotide sequence of the ribosomal protein gene cluster adjacent to the gene for RNA polymerase subunit ft in Escherichia coli.
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution |
| Author | Motoo Kimura |
| Edition | reprint, revised |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, 1983 |
| ISBN | 0521317932, 9780521317931 |
| Length | 367 pages |
| Subjects | › › Science / Life Sciences / Biology Science / Life Sciences / Developmental Biology |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |