Article
The interplay between epigenetic mechanisms and deleterious mutations: implications for fitness, evolution and conservation.
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences - 23 Jul 2026
Chen Rebecca S, Sepers Bernice, van Oers Kees, Hoffman Joseph I
Abstract excerpt
Understanding the causal effects of genetic mutations is essential for explaining fitness variation, forecasting evolutionary trajectories and assessing extinction risk, yet remains a fundamental challenge, particularly in natural populations. While amino acid substitutions can alter protein structure and function, mutations affecting gene regulation can also have significant fitness consequences. In this Opinion...
Topics
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Genetic Fitness
- Mutation
- Animals
- Biological Evolution
- Conservation of Natural Resources
- Humans