Muller's ratchet

proper noun

The process by which the genomes of an asexual population accumulate deleterious mutations in an irreversible manner; proposed as a theory to explain the evolution of sex.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. evolutionary geneticsThe process by which the genomes of an asexual population accumulate deleterious mutations in an irreversible manner; proposed as a theory to explain the evolution of sex.

Origin

Named after Hermann Joseph Muller. See ratchet effect.

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Cite this entry
APA

Muller's ratchet. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Muller's%20ratchet

MLA

“Muller's ratchet.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Muller's%20ratchet. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Muller's ratchet,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Muller's%20ratchet.

Source: Muller's ratchet on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.