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The current status of REH theoryA response is made to the evaluation of Fitch (1980) of REH (random evolutionary hits) theory for the evolutionary divergence of proteins and nucleic acids. Correct calculations for the beta hemoglobin mRNAs of the human, mouse and rabbit in the absence and presence of selective constraints are summarized, and it is shown that the alternative evolutionary analysis of Fitch underestimates the total fixed mutations. It is further shown that the model used by Fitch to test for the completeness of the count of total base substitutions is in fact a variant of REH theory. Considerations of the variance inherent in evolutionary estimations are also presented which show the REH model to produce no more variance than other evolutionary models. In the reply, it is argued that, despite the objections raised, REH theory applied to proteins gives inaccurate estimates of total gene substitutions. It is further contended that REH theory developed for nucleic sequences suffers from problems relating to the frequency of nucleotide substitutions, the identity of the codons accepting silent and amino acid-changing substitutions, and estimate uncertainties.
Document ID
19820044696
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Holmquist, R.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Jukes, T. H.
(California, University Berkeley, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Molecular Evolution
Volume: 18
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Accession Number
82A28231
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-05-003-460
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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