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Evolutionary dynamics of a polymorphic self-replicator population with a finite population size and hyper mutation
1Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Yamadaoka 1-5, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Journal of Theoretical Biology
|July 26, 2015
Summary
This study models asexual self-replicator evolution with high mutation rates. It identifies two selection modes, radical and gentle, impacting evolutionary speed and final fitness.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Theoretical biology
- Computational biology
Background:
- Self-replicating biomolecules undergo experimental evolution with high mutation rates.
- Understanding evolutionary dynamics in finite populations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the evolutionary dynamics of asexual self-replicators with finite population size and high mutation rates.
- To analyze the impact of different selection modes on evolutionary outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Formulated evolutionary dynamics based on fitness distribution.
- Utilized Kauffman's NK fitness landscape as a case study.
- Deduced recurrence relations for fitness distribution cumulants and compared with simulations.
Main Results:
- Identified two modes of selection: 'radical' (high fitness offspring) and 'gentle' (moderate fitness offspring).
- Radical mode leads to fast evolution but low final fitness.
- Gentle mode leads to slow evolution but high final fitness.
Conclusions:
- Evolutionary dynamics are classified into radical and gentle modes based on selection pressures.
- The interplay between landscape properties, mutation rate, and population size determines the dominant selection mode.
- Selection mode critically influences evolutionary equilibrium and climbing rate.
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