Sciences II, room A300, University of Geneva

Motoo Kimura developed this theory in the 60-70's to explain the high level of molecular diversity observed in populations, stipulating that the majority of mutations were neutral or nearly neutral, but without eliminating the role of natural selection. This theory has been somewhat marginalized in the past two decades. However, it is a fundamental theory that can explain many evolutionary changes. It is also the base of the molecular clock theory used by many researchers for their phylogenetic reconstructions.

Forty years after Kimura, and given the dramatic developments in molecular genetics and evidence of selection in many genes, where do we stand?

Speakers

The Current Status of the Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution

Photo of Prof. Naoyuki Takahata
Prof. Naoyuki Takahata
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai), Hayama, Japan

Near Neutrality: the Mutational-Hazard Theory of Genome Evolution

Photo of Prof. Michael Lynch
Prof. Michael Lynch
Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA

Markets and Gods don't like neutral evolution!

Photo of Prof. André Langaney
Prof. André Langaney
University of Geneva, Department of Genetics and evolution, Anthropology Unit, Switzerland

Discussants

Prof. Laurent Excoffier
University of Bern, Computational and Molecular Population Genetics, Switzerland
Prof. Michel Milinkovitch
University of Geneva, Department of Genetics & Evolution, LANE, Switzerland

Hosts

Prof. Alicia Sanchez-Mazas, Dr Estella Poloni, Dr Mathias Currat
University of Geneva, Department of Genetics and evolution, Anthropology Unit, Switzerland