Cited by 1,025Evolution and Genetic DynamicsBacterial Genetics and BiotechnologyPhilosophy of Biology and Scientific Explanation

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The origin of mutants

Cairns, John, Overbaugh, Julie, Miller, Stephan·1988·Nature

DOI 10.1038/335142a0

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Abstract

Nucleic acids are replicated with conspicuous fidelity. Infrequently, however, they undergo changes in sequence, and this process of change (mutation) generates the variability that allows evolution. As the result of studies of bacterial variation, it is now widely believed that mutations arise continuously and without any consideration for their utility. In this paper, we briefly review the source of this idea and then describe some experiments suggesting that cells may have mechanisms for choosing which mutations will occur.

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Authors: Cairns, J., Overbaugh, J., & Miller, S.
Affiliations: Harvard University (US)
ORCID: Cairns, John
Overbaugh, Julie
Venue: Nature
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 1988-09
Volume: 335
Issue: 6186
Pages: 142-145
ISSN: 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
1476-4687
DOI: 10.1038/335142a0
OpenAlex: W2043748488
Cited by: 1,025
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 8 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 29
FWCI: 25.69
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Nature (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy of Biology and Scientific Explanation
Keywords: genetic mutations, bacterial variation, mutation rate, genetic variation, evolution
MeSH terms: Arabinose, Escherichia coli, Biological Evolution, Genes, Bacterial, Lactose, Models, Genetic, Mutation, Operon, Selection, Genetic, Genetic Variation

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