Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Section I Introduction
- 1 Basic concepts of molecular evolution
- Section II Data preparation
- Section III Phylogenetic inference
- Section IV Testing models and trees
- Section V Molecular adaptation
- Section VI Recombination
- Section VII Population genetics
- Section VIII Additional topics
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- References
1 - Basic concepts of molecular evolution
from Section I - Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Section I Introduction
- 1 Basic concepts of molecular evolution
- Section II Data preparation
- Section III Phylogenetic inference
- Section IV Testing models and trees
- Section V Molecular adaptation
- Section VI Recombination
- Section VII Population genetics
- Section VIII Additional topics
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- References
Summary
Genetic information
It was the striking phenotypic variation of finches in the Galapagos Islands that inspired Darwin to draft his theory of evolution. His idea of a branching process of evolution was also consistent with the knowledge of fossil researchers who revealed phenotypic variation over long periods of time. Today, evolution can be observed in real time by scientists, with the fastest evolution occurring in viruses within months, resulting, for example, in rapid development of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance. The phenotype of living organisms is always a result of the genetic information that they carry and pass on to the next generation and its interaction with the environment. Thus, if we want to study the driving force of evolution, we have to investigate the changes in the genetic information.
The genome, carrier of this genetic information, is in most organisms deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), whereas some viruses have a ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome. Part of the genetic information in DNA is transcribed into RNA: either mRNA, which acts as a template for protein synthesis; rRNA, which together with ribosomal proteins constitutes the protein translation machinery; tRNA, which offers the encoded amino acid; or small RNAs, some of which are involved in regulating expression of genes. The genomic DNA also contains elements, such as promotors and enhancers, which orchestrate the proper transcription into RNA. A large part of the genomic DNA of eukaryotes consists of genetic elements such as introns or alu-repeats, the function of which is still not entirely clear.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Phylogenetic HandbookA Practical Approach to Phylogenetic Analysis and Hypothesis Testing, pp. 3 - 30Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009
References
- 12
- Cited by