Ka/Ks ratio
Ka/Ks ratio
The Ka/Ks ratio (pronounced as "ka over ks ratio"), also known as the nonsynonymous/synonymous substitution ratio, is a measure used in molecular evolution to estimate the balance between neutral mutations, purifying selection, and beneficial mutations.
Pronunciation
- Ka/Ks ratio: /kɑː ˈoʊvər keɪs ˈreɪʃioʊ/
Etymology
The term "Ka/Ks ratio" is derived from the symbols Ka and Ks, which represent nonsynonymous and synonymous substitutions, respectively, in the context of genetic mutation and molecular evolution.
Definition
The Ka/Ks ratio is a measure in genetics that compares the rate of nonsynonymous substitutions (Ka) to the rate of synonymous substitutions (Ks) in protein-coding DNA sequences. This ratio is used to infer the type of natural selection acting on a protein-coding gene. A Ka/Ks ratio greater than 1 indicates positive or adaptive selection, a ratio less than 1 suggests purifying selection, and a ratio of 1 suggests neutral evolution.
Related Terms
- Nonsynonymous substitution: A mutation that alters the amino acid sequence of a protein.
- Synonymous substitution: A mutation that does not alter the amino acid sequence of a protein.
- Natural selection: The process by which species adapt to their environment.
- Adaptive selection: A type of natural selection where beneficial traits become more common over time.
- Purifying selection: A type of natural selection that removes harmful traits from a population.
- Neutral evolution: The theory that most evolutionary changes are the result of genetic drift rather than natural selection.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ka/Ks ratio
- Wikipedia's article - Ka/Ks ratio
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