Population Biology of Genes and Molecules

by Naoyuki Takahata, James F. Crow (Editor)

In 1968, geneticist Motoo Kimura proposed the neutral theory of molecular evolution, which suggested that evolutionary changes of proteins occur mostly by random fixation of neutral mutations rather than positive Darwinian selection. This theory, which has had an enormous impact on population
genetics and evolutionary biology, also stated that much of the protein polymorphism in natural populations represents a transient phase of molecular evolution. During the past twenty years, the evolutionary study of DNA and proteins has generated much new data in support of Kimura's hypothesis,
which has since become the starting point for analyzing and interpreting molecular data. This book provides coverage of new developments and interpretations of data regarding the neutral theory of molecular evolution. It will be a valuable addition to the libraries of population geneticists and
evolutionary biologists.

370 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 1991