Processes of genome evolution reflected by base frequency differences among Serratia marcescens genes

Abstract

The G + C content of silent sites in codons varies greatly among Serratia marcescens genes; the value in any one gene seems to reflect a balance between mutation pressure towards high G + C content and natural selection constraining choice among synonymous codons. Interestingly, non-coding sequences have substantially lower G + C content than silent sites thought to be under little selective constraint.