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Published on: July 11, 2025
Quasispecies theory for evolution of modularity.
Jeong-Man Park1, Liang Ren Niestemski1, Michael W Deem1
1Departments of Physics & Astronomy and Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005-1892, USA; Department of Physical and Biological Science, Western New England University, Springfield, Massachusetts 01119, USA; and Department of Physics, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon 420-743, Korea.
Biological systems evolve increased modularity under environmental pressure. A new quasispecies theory explains how this adaptation occurs, linking environmental change rates to modularity growth and predicting evolved states.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Theoretical biology
- Systems biology
Background:
- Biological systems exhibit modularity, which changes with time and environment.
- Increased environmental pressure often correlates with increased biological modularity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a quasispecies theory for the dynamics of modularity in biological populations.
- To investigate how modularity evolves under changing environmental conditions.
Main Methods:
- Developed a quasispecies theory for modularity dynamics.
- Computed steady-state fitness in a randomly changing environment.
- Derived a fluctuation-dissipation relation for modularity change rate.
- Established a relationship between environmental change rate and modularity growth rate.
Main Results:
- Quantified steady-state fitness in fluctuating environments.
- Derived a principle of least action for evolved modularity at steady state.
- Found a direct relationship between the rate of environmental change and the rate of modularity growth.
Conclusions:
- The developed quasispecies theory accurately predicts modularity dynamics in evolving biological systems.
- Theoretical predictions are consistent with simulations of protein evolution.
- Modularity is an adaptable trait that evolves in response to environmental pressures.
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