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Evolution of robustness to noise and mutation in gene expression dynamics
1Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo Japan. kaneko@complex.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Plos One
|May 16, 2007
Summary
Biological systems require robustness against mutation and developmental fluctuations. This study shows that gene expression noise exceeding a threshold is crucial for evolving both genetic and developmental robustness.
Area of Science:
- Systems Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Biological systems need robustness against mutations for generational stability and developmental fluctuations within an individual.
- Two types of robustness exist: genetic robustness (against mutation) and developmental robustness (against internal/external fluctuations).
- The relationship between these robustness types and the role of stochasticity in gene expression remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between genetic robustness and developmental robustness.
- To explore the role of stochasticity in gene expression in the evolution of these robustness types.
- To quantitatively derive the conditions for the evolution of robustness.
Main Methods:
- Simulations of a stochastic gene expression network.
- Incorporation of mutation and selection processes.
- Quantitative analysis of phenotypic variance to measure robustness.
Main Results:
- Genetic robustness evolves only when gene expression noise strength surpasses a specific threshold.
- Phenotypic variance from mutations must be less than variance in isogenic populations for dual robustness.
- Both genetic and developmental robustness increase over evolutionary time when the noise threshold is met.
Conclusions:
- Gene expression noise is essential for the evolution of genetic robustness.
- Developmental noise influences the evolution of robustness to mutations.
- Phenotypic variance fluctuations provide a measurable link between gene expression noise, developmental robustness, and genetic robustness.
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