Weak selection and recent mutational changes influence polymorphic synonymous mutations in humans.

ABSTRACT: Recent large-scale genomic and evolutionary studies have revealed the small but detectable signature of weak selection on synonymous mutations during mammalian evolution, likely acting at the level of translational efficacy (i.e., translational selection). To investigate whether weak selection, and translational selection in particular, plays any role in shaping the fate of synonymous mutations that are present today in human populations, we studied genetic variation at the polymorphic level and patterns of evolution in the human lineage after human-chimpanzee separation. We find evidence that neutral mechanisms are influencing the frequency of polymorphic mutations in humans. Our results suggest a recent increase in mutational tendencies toward AT, observed in all isochores, that is respo

SUBMITTER: Comeron JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1458998 | biostudies-literature | 2006 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature