Normal mutation rate variants arise in a Mutator (Mut S) Escherichia coli population.

ABSTRACT: The rate at which mutations are generated is central to the pace of evolution. Although this rate is remarkably similar amongst all cellular organisms, bacterial strains with mutation rates 100 fold greater than the modal rates of their species are commonly isolated from natural sources and emerge in experimental populations. Theoretical studies postulate and empirical studies teort the hypotheses that these "mutator" strains evolved in response to selection for elevated rates of generation of inherited variation that enable bacteria to adapt to novel and/or rapidly changing environments. Less clear are the conditions under which selection will favor reductions in mutation rates. Declines in rates of mutation for established populations of mutator bacteria are not anticipated if such chang

SUBMITTER: Turrientes MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3771984 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature