Evolution of DNA base composition under no-strand-bias conditions when the substitution rates are not constant

Abstract

The evolution of DNA base composition evolution is simplified to a six- parameter model when there are no strand biases for mutation and selection. We analyzed the dynamics of this model with special attention to the influence of a change in substitution rates. The G+C content of the DNA sequence tends to an equilibrium value that is controlled by four parameters of the model. When the substitution rates are not constant, the G+C equilibrium position is not constant. The DNA sequence base frequencies always tend to a state in which A = T and G = C within a strand, regardless of substitution rates. This is true even when the substitution rates are not constant over time. This provides a simple way of rejecting the model from inspection of present-day DNA base composition.