AT Skew Due to Selection, Not Mutation
Author Information
Author(s): Charneski Catherine A., Honti Frank, Bryant Josephine M., Hurst Laurence D., Feil Edward J.
Primary Institution: University of Bath
Hypothesis
Does mutation or selection best explain the unusual AT skew in Staphylococcus aureus?
Conclusion
The atypical AT skew in S. aureus is primarily due to selection rather than mutation.
Supporting Evidence
- The study shows that the AT skew is primarily associated with non-synonymous codon sites.
- Evidence from SNPs indicates that mutation bias does not explain the observed AT skew.
- Selection against stop codons contributes to the observed AT skew in first codon positions.
- High gene strand bias correlates with positive AT skew across Firmicutes.
Takeaway
This study found that the unusual pattern of DNA bases in S. aureus is caused by natural selection, not by mutations.
Methodology
The study analyzed SNP data from a single widespread clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to assess the causes of AT skew.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in SNP calling and the representativeness of the sample may affect the results.
Limitations
The study's conclusions are based on SNP data from a single clone, which may not represent all strains of S. aureus.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on a single widespread clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% bootstrap intervals shown in parentheses.
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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