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Regressive biological evolution due to environmental change.

D J Lacks1

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.

Journal of Theoretical Biology
|April 26, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Environmental changes can trigger regressive evolution, where populations adapt to a less fit state. This occurs via irreversible shifts in genotype space, even when evolving towards higher fitness.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Theoretical biology
  • Complex systems

Background:

  • Organisms typically evolve towards higher fitness states.
  • Environmental changes pose challenges to population adaptation.
  • Understanding evolutionary trajectories under stress is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phenomenon of regressive evolution.
  • To explore the mechanisms driving adaptation to less fit states.
  • To model evolutionary responses to environmental shifts.

Main Methods:

  • Computational simulations were employed.
  • The study modeled population dynamics in changing environments.
  • Analogies to stress-induced aging in glassy materials were used.

Main Results:

  • Regressive evolution frequently occurs in response to environmental change.
  • Stress-induced disappearance of fitness optima causes irreversible genotypic shifts.
  • Populations may reach less adapted states even when evolving to higher fitness.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental instability can lead to evolutionary "aging" or decline.
  • Irreversible changes in genotype space are key to regressive evolution.
  • Initial adaptation does not guarantee future resilience to environmental shifts.

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