Spontaneous mutation rate is a plastic trait associated with population density across domains of life.

ABSTRACT: Rates of random, spontaneous mutation can vary plastically, dependent upon the environment. Such plasticity affects evolutionary trajectories and may be adaptive. We recently identified an inverse plastic association between mutation rate and population density at 1 locus in 1 species of bacterium. It is unknown how widespread this association is, whether it varies among organisms, and what molecular mechanisms of mutagenesis or repair are required for this mutation-rate plasticity. Here, we address all 3 questions. We identify a strong negative association between mutation rate and population density across 70 years of published literature, comprising hundreds of mutation rates estimated using phenotypic markers of mutation (fluctuation tests) from all domains of life and viruses. We test

SUBMITTER: Krasovec R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5570273 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature