Mutation bias alters the distribution of fitness effects of mutations.

ABSTRACT: Mutation bias is an important factor determining the diversity of genetic variants available for selection. As adaptation proceeds and some beneficial mutations are fixed, new beneficial mutations become rare, limiting further adaptation. The depletion of beneficial mutations is especially stark within the mutational class favored by the existing mutation bias. Recent theoretical work predicts that this problem may be alleviated by a change in the direction of mutation bias (i.e., a bias reversal). If populations sample previously underexplored types of mutations, the distribution of fitness effects (DFE) of mutations should shift towards more beneficial mutations. Here, we test this prediction using Escherichia coli, which has a transition mutation bias, with ~54% single-nucleotide mutati

SUBMITTER: Sane M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12273949 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature