Spontaneous mutation rate
| Range | ~1e-6 mutations/gene/cell division |
|---|---|
| Organism | Human Homo sapiens |
| Reference | Cairns J. 1975. Mutation selection and the natural history of cancer. Nature 255: 197–200. p.197 left column 2nd paragraphPubMed ID1143315 |
| Primary Source | Drake, The Molecular Basis of Mutation (Holden-Day, San Francisco, 1970) & Cavalli-Sforza and Bodmer, The Genetics of Human Populations, (WH Freeman, San Francisco, 1971) & Albertini RJ, DeMars R. Somatic cell mutation. Detection and quantification of x-ray-induced mutation in cultured, diploid human fibroblasts. Mutat Res. 1973 May18(2):199-224.PubMed ID4711931 |
| Comments | "For man...there must be some 10^16 cell divisions [in small intestine epithelium BNID 110651], and this number must somehow be reconciled with a spontaneous mutation rate of about 10^-6 per gene per cell division (primary sources). Because most of the cell division is occurring in epithelia, that is where [researchers] may expect to find the protective mechanisms most highly developed." |
| Entered by | Uri M |
| ID | 110652 |