jeannot
Posts: 1201
Joined: Jan. 2006
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| Quote (Faid @ May 14 2006,15:12) | | Quote (jeannot @ May 14 2006,14:46) | | The apparent convergence of 36% could be significantly reduced, only if several substitutions accumulated in the rat lineage only, which is not likely since the active GLO is subject to purifying selection. |
I know, that's why I'm speaking of substitutions that do not affect the gene's function. Now, I think such are possible to occur (although much, much less than all the kinds of mutations that accumulate in broken genes, of course)... Otherwise, the GULO gene should be 100% identical in all animals that can make their own vit. C- And I think that is not the case? Or is it? Does anyone have a relevant source?
Did I mention that this is fun?  |
Sure, synonymous mutations, for instance, are essentially neutral. You can also have some beneficial mutations.
And as you said, the number of neutral substitutions is far higher in a non-coding sequence, since 100% are neutral.
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