Motoo Kimura

Motoo Kimura was a Japanese geneticist known for his work on the evolution of genes. He developed the Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution, which suggests that most genetic changes at the DNA level are caused by random drift of neutral mutations, rather than natural selection. This idea shifted how scientists understand genetic variation and evolution, emphasizing the importance of chance events at the molecular level. Kimura’s work has had a profound influence on evolutionary biology, helping to explain how genetic diversity arises and persists in populations over time.