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Evolution of functional diversification within quasispecies.

Enrico Sandro Colizzi1, Paulien Hogeweg2

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High mutation rates in RNA systems can lead to a single master sequence coding for ecosystem information, outcompeting neutral evolution strategies. This ecosystem-based diversity persists indefinitely near the information threshold.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Virology
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Quasispecies theory posits high mutation rates limit genomic information (Eigen's Paradox).
  • The
  • survival of the flattest
  • suggests neutral genomes are favored over faster replication.
  • RNA folding introduces complex genotype-phenotype maps, creating neutral networks exploited by evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Reexamine classical quasispecies theory in an RNA-based system with evolving ecology.
  • Investigate the impact of complex genotype-phenotype maps on genomic information and evolution.
  • Determine if high mutation rates can lead to stable, functional quasispecies.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an RNA-based system capable of evolving its own ecology.
  • Analyzed quasispecies population structure and genome composition under high mutation rates.
  • Characterized emergent functionalities and their role in system viability.

Main Results:

  • Contrary to expectations, high mutation rates resulted in steep quasispecies with a single master sequence.
  • Non-replicating genotypes evolved crucial functionalities, essential for system viability and stability.
  • The master sequence encodes ecosystem information, decoded stochastically via mutations.
  • This strategy outperformed systems relying on high genomic neutrality.

Conclusions:

  • Individually coded, ecosystem-based diversity evolves and persists near the Information Threshold.
  • RNA folding and complex genotype-phenotype maps facilitate the emergence of functional phenotypes from non-replicating genotypes.
  • The master sequence acts as a central information hub for the evolving RNA ecosystem.