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MULLER'S RATCHET AND MUTATIONAL MELTDOWNS.

W Gabriel1, M Lynch2, R Bürger3

  • 1Department of Physiological Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Limnology, Postfach 165, D-24302 Plön, Germany.

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|June 2, 2017
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Deleterious mutations drive asexual population extinction. An intermediate selection coefficient minimizes extinction time, with implications for DNA repair and mitochondrial lineage survival.

Keywords:
ExtinctionMuller's ratchetmutationsselection coefficient

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Population genetics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Deleterious mutations pose a significant threat to the long-term survival of obligately asexual populations.
  • Previous research has highlighted the role of mutation accumulation in population decline.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop analytical models for mutation accumulation to predict extinction times without extensive simulations.
  • To investigate the impact of selection coefficient on extinction rates in asexual populations.
  • To explore the evolutionary consequences of mutational meltdown and its effect on mitochondrial lineages.

Main Methods:

  • Development of analytical models for mutation accumulation.
  • Application of quantitative genetics approaches for high mutation rates.
  • Utilizing fixation-probability methods for low mutation rates.
  • Analysis of selection coefficient's effect on extinction dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Analytical models provide accurate predictions for mutation accumulation and extinction times across different parameter ranges.
  • An intermediate selection coefficient was found to minimize the time to extinction.
  • Low selection coefficients can be evolutionarily advantageous for asexual organisms, favoring increased mutation sensitivity and reduced DNA repair capacity.
  • The study considers the impact of mutational meltdown on mitochondrial lineage extinction in sexual species.

Conclusions:

  • Analytical models offer efficient alternatives to simulations for studying mutation accumulation and extinction.
  • Selection pressure plays a crucial role in the rate of extinction due to deleterious mutations.
  • Evolutionary adaptations in asexual populations may involve trade-offs between mutation tolerance and DNA repair, with potential implications for long-term persistence.