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Distribution of genotype network sizes in sequence-to-structure genotype-phenotype maps
Susanna Manrubia1,2, José A Cuesta3,4,5,6
1Grupo Interdisciplinar de Sistemas Complejos (GISC), Madrid, Spain smanrubia@cnb.csic.es.
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|April 21, 2017
Summary
Understanding genotype-phenotype maps is key to evolvability. This study analytically derives genotype network size distributions, revealing how sequence-to-structure map features dictate power-law or lognormal distributions.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Computational Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Evolvability of populations depends on genotype space navigability.
- Navigability requires large, interconnected genotype networks.
- Current methods struggle with the vast scale of genotype networks for functional molecules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analytically derive genotype network size distributions.
- To identify features of sequence-to-structure maps influencing these distributions.
- To model genotype-phenotype relationships with increasing realism.
Main Methods:
- Developed a hierarchy of analytical models for sequence-to-structure maps.
- Characterized phenotypes by prototypical sequences with variable site alphabets.
- Interpolated between power-law and lognormal distribution limits.
Main Results:
- Derived analytical distributions for genotype network sizes.
- Identified specific sequence-to-structure map features driving distribution types.
- Showed distributions depend on site ordering constraints and phenotypic variation.
Conclusions:
- The distribution of genotype network sizes is determined by the specific features of sequence-to-structure maps.
- Models successfully capture the transition between power-law and lognormal distributions.
- This work provides a framework for understanding molecular evolvability through genotype network properties.