title: Genetic code ambiguity confers a selective advantage on Acinetobacter baylyi.
abstract: A primitive genetic code, composed of a smaller set of amino acids, may have expanded via recursive periods of genetic code ambiguity that were followed by specificity. Here we model a step in this process by showing how genetic code ambiguity could result in an enhanced growth rate in Acinetobacter baylyi.
authors.affiliation: The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd., BCC-379, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bacher
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Waas
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Metzgar
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Crécy-Lagard
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schimmel
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D005815:Genetic Code