King and Jukes model

The King and Jukes model describes how the mutation rate in DNA affects the rate at which genetic differences accumulate over time. It suggests that when mutations are rare, genetic differences between species grow steadily. However, over species’ long histories, the rate can appear to slow down because multiple mutations may occur at the same DNA site, sometimes canceling each other out or hiding differences. This model helps scientists understand why some genetic comparisons show fewer differences than expected and highlights the importance of considering mutation rates and saturation when estimating how long ago species diverged.