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Nature 436, 183-184 (14 July 2005) | doi:10.1038/436183a; Published online 13 July 2005
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Evolutionary biology: Relativity for molecular clocks
David Penny1
Abstract
An analysis of genetic data sets from primates and birds provides firm evidence that molecular evolution is faster on shorter than on longer timescales. The estimated times of various evolutionary events require a rethink.
The relative constancy of the rate at which DNA sequences evolve has been a treasured icon of molecular evolution for nearly 40 years. The occurrence of such a stochastic 'molecular clock' was initially quite unexpected, and was explained by Motoo Kimura1 by assuming that most changes to amino-acid and nucleotide sequences were neutral — "neither beneficial nor injurious", in Charles Darwin's prescient phrase.
- David Penny is at the Allan Wilson Center for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Email: D.Penny@massey.ac.nz
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