Molecular evolution
Molecular Evolution
Molecular evolution (/məˈlɛkjʊlər ɪˈvɒljuːʃən/) is a field of biology that studies the evolutionary processes that produced the diversity of life on Earth at the molecular level. The term "molecular evolution" was first coined by Emile Zuckerkandl and Linus Pauling in the 1960s.
Etymology
The term "molecular evolution" is derived from the Latin molecula meaning "small mass" and the Latin evolutio meaning "unrolling". It refers to the changes in the structure and function of molecules that occur over time.
Related Terms
- Genetic drift: A mechanism of evolution in which allele frequencies of a population change over generations due to chance (sampling error).
- Natural selection: The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
- Mutation: A change in a DNA sequence, usually occurring because of errors in replication or repair.
- Gene flow: The transfer of genetic variation from one population to another.
- Speciation: The evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species.
Process
Molecular evolution involves changes in the structure and function of molecules over time. These changes can occur at the level of DNA, RNA, or protein molecules. The process is driven by mechanisms of evolutionary change such as mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.
Applications
Molecular evolution has applications in various fields such as genetics, bioinformatics, systematics, and evolutionary biology. It is used to understand the evolutionary history of life on Earth, the origin and spread of diseases, the development of new drugs and therapies, and the conservation of endangered species.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Molecular evolution
- Wikipedia's article - Molecular evolution
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