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Nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution

The nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution is a modification of the neutral theory of molecular evolution that accounts for the fact that not all mutations are either so deleterious such that they can be ignored, or else neutral.

Version
v1 · 2026-09-28 · History
Domain-specific #
10933
Domain group
Natural Sciences
Origin domain
Biology & Ecology
Subdomains
Molecular Evolution, Population Genetics → Biology & Ecology

Core Idea

Nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution is treated here as the recurring naturalsciencesengineeringhealth identity summarized by this source-grounded definition: The nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution is a modification of the neutral theory of molecular evolution that accounts for the fact that not all mutations are either so deleterious such that they can be ignored, or else neutral. The nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution is a modification of the neutral theory of molecular evolution that accounts for the fact that not all mutations are either so deleterious such that they can be ignored, or.

Scope of Application

  • Theory. Alternatively, the later “fixed model” fixes the distribution of mutations’ effect on protein function, but allows the mean fitness of population to evolve.

  • Origins. Between then and the early 1990s, many studies of molecular evolution used a "shift model" in which the negative effect on the fitness of a population due to deleterious mutations shifts.

  • Theory. Early work used a “shift model” in which s can vary between generations but the mean fitness of the population is reset to zero after fixation.

  • Theory. This assumption can lead to indefinite improvement or deterioration of protein function.

  • Theory. This allows the distribution of s to change with the mean fitness of population.

Clarity

A clear use of Nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution names the carrier, the operative relation, and the conditions under which the source treats the identity as present. The minimal definition is The nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution is a modification of the neutral theory of molecular evolution that accounts for the fact that not all mutations are either so deleterious such that they can be ignored, or else.

Manages Complexity

Nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution compresses multiple naturalsciencesengineeringhealth details into a stable diagnostic relation. The source shows both the central mechanism—this allows the distribution of s to change with the mean fitness of population.—and the practical consequence—these mutations can fix in small- Ne populations through genetic drift. This compression makes cases comparable while leaving parameters, conventions, exceptions, and evidential quality explicit.

Abstract Reasoning

  1. Type the carrier. Identify the naturalsciencesengineeringhealth entities to which the claim applies.
  2. State the relation. Use the source-grounded identity: The nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution is a modification of the neutral theory of molecular evolution that accounts for the fact that not all mutations are either so deleterious such that they can be ignored, or else neutral.
  3. Check operation and conditions. In large Ne populations, advantageous mutations are quickly picked up by selection, increasing the mean fitness of the population.
  4. Demand recognition evidence.

Knowledge Transfer

Within the home domain. Knowledge about Nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution transfers literally when a new case preserves the same carrier type, relation, and recognition test. Alternatively, the later “fixed model” fixes the distribution of mutations’ effect on protein function, but allows the mean fitness of population to evolve. Between then and the early 1990s, many studies of molecular evolution used a "shift model" in which the negative effect on the fitness of a population due to deleterious mutations shifts back to an original value when a mutation reaches fixation. Beyond the home domain.

Relationships to Other Abstractions

Local relationship map for Nearly neutral theory of molecular evolutionParents appear above the current abstraction, mutual partners to the right, and children below. Node labels state whether each abstraction is prime or domain-specific; colors identify relation types.Nearly neutral theor…DOMAINPrime abstraction: Theory — is a kind ofTheoryPRIME

Current abstraction Nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution Domain-specific

Parents (1) — more general patterns this builds on

  • Nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution is a kind of Theory Prime

    Nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution is a strict kind of Theory: its frozen identity entails the parent's defining structure while adding domain-specific restrictions.

Hierarchy paths (2) — routes to 2 parentless roots

Neighborhood in Abstraction Space

Nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution sits in a moderately populated region (53rd percentile for distinctiveness): it has near-neighbors but no dense thicket of look-alikes.

Family — Selection, Speciation & Experimental Evolution (22 abstractions)

Nearest neighbors

Computed from structural-signature embeddings · 2026-10-08