Problems and paradigns. Evolution of mitochondrial genomes and the genetic code

Bioessays 14 (10):709-714 (1992)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Mitochondrial genomes are clearly marked by a strong tendency towards reductive evolution. This tendency has been facilitated by the transfer of most of the essential genes for mitochondrial propogation and function to the nuclear genome. The most extreme examples of genomic simplification are seen in animal mitochondria, where there also are the greatest tendencies to codon reassignment. The reassignment of codons to amino acids different from those designated in the so called universal code is seen in part as an expression of the reduction of the number of genes used by these genomes to code for tRNA species. The driving force for the reductive evolution of mitochondrial genomes is identifed with two population genetic effects which may also be operating on populations of parasites.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,616

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Phases of degeneracy of the genetic code.Manfred Welti - 1987 - Acta Biotheoretica 36 (2):51-60.
The genetic code and the origin of life.Josef Berger - 1976 - Acta Biotheoretica 25 (4):259-263.
The arbitrariness of the genetic code.Ulrich E. Stegmann - 2004 - Biology and Philosophy 19 (2):205-222.
From symbolism to information? – Decoding the Gene code.Frode Kjosavik - 2007 - Biology and Philosophy 22 (3):333-349.

Analytics

Added to PP
2014-01-19

Downloads
16 (#774,541)

6 months
2 (#668,348)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?