Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

What is a quasispecies?

C K Biebricher1, M Eigen

  • 1Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. cbiebri@gwdg.de

Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|March 30, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Two-beam cross-correlation:  a method to characterize transport phenomena in micrometer-sized structures.

Analytical chemistry·2011
Same author

Selforganization in molecular and cellular networks.

Neurochemistry international·2010
Same author

Theodor Hermann Felix Wieland (5 June 1913-24 November 1995).

Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society·2001
Same author

Mysticism and psychoanalysis.

Psychoanalytic review·2001
Same author

Dual-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy for monitoring the kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

Methods (San Diego, Calif.)·2001
Same author

RNA species that replicate with DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli.

Biochemistry·2001
Same journal

Resolution Biology in Soft Tissue Joint Disease.

Current topics in microbiology and immunology·2026
Same journal

A 25+ Year Journey on Yeast-Regulated Cell Death Research.

Current topics in microbiology and immunology·2026
Same journal

Adoptive T-Cell Immunotherapy.

Current topics in microbiology and immunology·2026
Same journal

Resolution Pharmacology Targeting the Melanocortin System.

Current topics in microbiology and immunology·2026
Same journal

Resolution of Skeletal Muscle Inflammation: Role of Specialized Pro-resolving Lipid Mediators in the Recovery from Exercise, Injury, and Disease.

Current topics in microbiology and immunology·2026
Same journal

Epstein-Barr Virus: From the Detection of Sequence Polymorphisms to the Recognition of Viral Strains.

Current topics in microbiology and immunology·2026
See all related articles

The quasispecies concept describes how mutant populations evolve and compete, forming a stable state where each mutant is represented by its fitness and mutation rate. This evolutionary model, particularly studied in RNA viruses, impacts evolution and informs new technologies.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Virology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The quasispecies concept models asexual populations generating diverse mutants.
  • These mutants compete, leading to a dynamic steady state.
  • This concept is crucial for understanding high-mutation-rate organisms like RNA viruses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the concept of the quasispecies.
  • To discuss its impact on evolutionary pathways.
  • To explore implications for evolutionary technology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on the quasispecies model.
  • Analysis of mutant spectrum generation and competition.
  • Examination of the error threshold in sequence space exploration.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • A steady state is achieved where mutant representation is determined by fitness and mutation.
  • The quasispecies possesses a defined wild-type sequence as a weighted average of genotypes.
  • Organisms, especially RNA viruses, operate near the error threshold for maximal sequence space exploration while maintaining genetic information.

Conclusions:

  • The quasispecies model significantly influences evolutionary trajectories.
  • Understanding the quasispecies is vital for high-mutation-rate species.
  • The concept has potential applications in developing new evolutionary technologies.