Natural Selection Shapes Codon Usage in the Human Genome

Synonymous codon usage has been identified as a determinant of translational efficiency and mRNA stability in model organisms and human cell lines. However, whether natural selection shapes human codon content to optimize translation efficiency is unclear. Furthermore, aside from those that affect splicing, synonymous mutations are typically ignored as potential contributors to disease. Using genetic sequencing data from nearly 200,000 individuals, we uncover clear evidence that natural selection optimizes codon content in the human genome.

Source: The American Journal of Human Genetics - June 7, 2020 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Ryan S. Dhindsa, Brett R. Copeland, Anthony M. Mustoe, David B. Goldstein Tags: Article Source Type: research