Question

Suppose the mutation rate per nucleotide for a genetic locus is 4 × 10–8 and that the locus contains 1,500 nucleotides. what is the per-locus mutation rate?

Answer 1

Given: The mutation rate per nucleotide is 4 x $10^{-8}$. There are 1500 nucleotides per locus.

To find: The mutation rate per locus for the locus of length 1500 nucleotides.

Method: Simple multiplication of the mutation rate per nucleotide with number of nucleotides per locus will give the answer

Solution:

The mutation rate per nucleotide = $4 \times 10^{-8}$

The number of nucleotides per locus = 1500

The mutation rate per locus = mutation rate per nucleotide x number of nucleotide per locus = $4 \times 10^{-8} \times 1500 = 6 \times 10^{-5}$.