While some scientists, such as Freese (1962) and Freese and Yoshida (1965), had suggested that neutral mutations were probably widespread, a coherent theory of neutral evolution was proposed by Motoo Kimura in 1968, and by King and Jukes independently in 1969.
Aínda que algúns científicos como Freese (1962) e Freese e Yoshida (1965), indicaron que as mutacións neutras estaban probablemente moi estendidas, non se propuxo unha teoría coherente da evolución neutralista ata que o fixeron, independentemente, Motoo Kimura en 1968, e King e Jukes en 1969.