Question

miocene hominoid Evolution - 1) is it reasonable to expect that mutation rates are relatively constant over long periods of time? what events would significantly alter the mutation rates of a species?

Answer 1

No , it is not reasonable to expect that mutation rates are relatively constant over long periods of time. Mutation is a random process which is slow but keeps on changing. It is not constant with time.They occur at low frequency and causes chemical instabilities.

The events that will significantly alter the mutation rates of a species are-

Genetic drift- due to change in allelic frequency in a given population, mutation rates can also be effected. As a specific mutation could be in present in a specific gene, frequency change in alleles causes major impact.

Gene flow- When there is more addition of gene pool to the population, this also change the rates of mutation as the population becomes uneven.

Natural selection and Evolution- Due to evolving environment and natural selection of genes, mutation rates are effected in long runs. Natural selection decides whether the mutation will move further after selection or being stopped there only.

So these are important factors that alter the mutation rates.

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