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Migration promotes mutator alleles in subdivided populations
Yevgeniy Raynes1, Paul D Sniegowski2, Daniel M Weinreich1
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, 02906.
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|January 12, 2019
Summary
Mutator alleles, which increase mutation rates, can thrive in structured populations. Subdividing populations with rare migration surprisingly favors mutator success, impacting evolution in microbes and cancer.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Mutator alleles increase genomic mutation rates and are found in microbial pathogens, cancer, and adapting lab populations.
- Mutator selection is dependent on population size, favoring them in large populations but disfavoring them in smaller ones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of population structure in the evolution of mutation rates.
- To determine if subdivided populations with migration can favor mutator alleles.
Main Methods:
- Stochastic, agent-based simulations.
- Evolution experiments using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Main Results:
- Mutators are favored by selection in subdivided metapopulations with sufficient migration.
- Population structure significantly influences mutator success, promoting their fixation in metapopulations with rare migration.
Conclusions:
- Subdivided populations with rare migration can promote the fixation of mutator alleles.
- Population structure is a critical, previously unrecognized factor in mutation rate evolution.
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