Molecular evolution

thumb|Three major single-chromosome mutations: deletion (genetics)|deletion (1), duplication (2) and inversion (3).

technique to deduce the time in prehistory when two or more life forms diverged

process of change in the sequence composition of cellular molecules across generations

duplication of a gene sequence within a genome

branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences

thesis that most evolutionary changes occur at the molecular level, and that most of the variation within and between species are due to random genetic drift of mutant alleles that are selectively neutral

thumb|upright=1.5|Painting of Hugo de Vries, making a painting of an evening primrose, the plant which had apparently produced new forms by large mutations in his experiments, by [[Thérèse Schwartze, 1918]] Mutationism is one of several alternatives to evolution by natural selection that have existed both before and after the publication of Charles Darwin's 1859 book On the Origin of Species. In the theory, mutation was the source of novelty, creating new forms and new species, potentially instantaneously, in sudden jumps. This was envisaged as driving evolution, which was thought to be limite

study of E. coli bacteria evolution in controlled conditions

DNA recombination process that results in the unidirectional transfer of genetic material from a donor sequence to a highly homologous acceptor

form of Mutation

term

group of proteins that share a common evolutionary origin, reflected by similarity in their structure

history of the field of study of molecular evolution

process by which a genome changes in structure or size over time