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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
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Phase transitions in evolutionary dynamics.

Adam D Scott1, Dawn M King1, Stephen W Ordway1

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Neurodynamics, University of Missouri at St. Louis, One University Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63121, USA.

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Evolutionary dynamics exhibit sharp shifts, like survival to extinction, which can be modeled as non-equilibrium phase transitions using statistical physics. This review explores phase transition models across various evolutionary scenarios.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Dynamics
  • Statistical Physics
  • Complex Systems

Background:

  • Evolutionary systems undergo sharp state changes, such as survival-to-extinction transitions, which are analogous to non-equilibrium phase transitions in physics.
  • These transitions can be analyzed using statistical physics and the study of nonlinear and complex systems.

Approach:

  • This review synthesizes literature on phase transitions within evolutionary dynamics.
  • It examines directed percolation transitions in cellular automata and evolutionary models, alongside models deviating from this universality class.
  • An agent-based model of evolutionary dynamics is detailed, showcasing an absorbing phase transition with novel data and multi-level evolutionary structure analysis.

Key Points:

  • Directed percolation and its divergences are discussed in evolutionary models.
  • Absorbing phase transitions are analyzed in an agent-based model, revealing similarities and differences with directed percolation.
  • Phase transition models are explored for RNA virus error catastrophe and the origin of life (chemistry to biochemistry).

Conclusions:

  • Phase transitions offer a framework for understanding natural selection dynamics.
  • They may help resolve fundamental questions in multilevel selection and major evolutionary transitions.
  • The outlook for applying phase transition dynamics to evolutionary research is promising.