Retention of cryptic genes in microbial populations |
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Authors: | Li WH |
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Institution: | Center for Demographic and Population Genetics, University of Texas, Houston 77025. |
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Abstract: | Cryptic genes are silenced genes that can still be reactivated by mutation.
Since they can make no positive contribution to the fitness of their
carriers, it is not clear why many cryptic genes in microbial populations
have not degenerated into useless DNA sequences. Hall et al. (1983) have
suggested that cryptic genes have persisted because of occasional strong
environmental selection for reactivated genes. The present mathematical
study supports their suggestion. It shows that a cryptic gene can be
retained without having any selective advantage over a useless DNA
sequence, if selection for the reactivated gene occasionally occurs for a
substantially long time.
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Keywords: | |
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