The synonymous substitution rate is often assumed to represent

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Synonymous substitutions are changes in the DNA sequence that do not alter the amino acid sequence of the protein they encode. These changes are often considered neutral with respect to fitness and are thought to accumulate at a rate primarily influenced by genetic drift rather than by natural selection. This is because they do not directly affect the organism's phenotype and thus its fitness in a given environment.

The Synonymous Substitution Rate Is Often Assumed to Represent