Neutral Theory Paper

Words: 975
Pages: 4

The neutral theory on molecular evolution was proposed by Motoo Kimura in an attempt to prove that when looking at the molecular level of evolution the cause of variation can be attributed to neutral or nearly neutral mutations. It is the combination of negative selection and random drift that act in a manner promoting evolution and not natural selection. Though natural selection plays a vital role in the diversity present in various species it acts only in a manner that would eliminate those mutations and effects of genetic drift that would be detrimental to the continuation of a species. The neutral theory proposes that despite the vast number of variations present in genes and most commonly associate with phenotypic differences these variations are all equal. In fact it is because these variations are all equally neutral to the organisms that they are present in the population. Since, it is only due to the identical fitness that the various phenotypes and different gene variations are able to maintain a continuous presence in a species. The theory holds that despite that fact that there are commonly several versions of a gene present in populations the frequency at which the gene is seen is due to genetic drift. …show more content…
Fay and Chung-I Wu. The tests employed in the article were developed in order to aid the detection of molecular level positive selection and will help determine how viable the neutral theory is in addition to the frequency of adaptive situations. The article talks about two methods of approaching testing direct and indirect. Using the direct approach compares amino acid changes to synonymous changes while the indirect approach detects natural selection based on a skew in the frequency distribution of neutral variation linked to a site that was under