Estimation of evolutionary distances between homologous nucleotide sequences - PubMed (original) (raw)

Estimation of evolutionary distances between homologous nucleotide sequences

M Kimura. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 Jan.

Abstract

By using two models of evolutionary base substitutions--"three-substitution-type" and "two-frequency-class" models--some formulae are derived which permit a simple estimation of the evolutionary distances (and also the evolutionary rates when the divergence times are known) through comparative studies of DNA (and RNA) sequences. These formulae are applied to estimate the base substitution rates at the first, second, and third positions of codons in genes for presomatotropins, preproinsulins, and alpha- and beta-globins (using comparisons involving mammals). Also, formulae for estimating the synonymous component (at the third codon position) and the standard errors are obtained. It is pointed out that the rates of synonymous base substitutions not only are very high but also are roughly equal to each other between genes even when amino acid-altering substitution rates are quite different and that this is consistent with the neutral mutation-random drift hypothesis of molecular evolution.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. J Mol Evol. 1972 Dec 29;2(1):87-90 - PubMed
    1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1980 Dec;77(12):7328-32 - PubMed
    1. Nature. 1977 May 19;267(5608):275-6 - PubMed
    1. Nature. 1977 Dec 8;270(5637):486-94 - PubMed
    1. J Mol Evol. 1978 Aug 2;11(3):267-9 - PubMed

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources