Selection for Mutational Robustness in Finite Populations.
From: Digital Life Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Journal of theoretical biology
- Publish Date: Nov 2006
- ISSN: 0022-5193
- Volume: 243
- Issue: 2
- Pages: 181-90
- Medium: Print
- Language: English
- Citation (JAMA): Forster Robert, Adami Christoph, Wilke Claus O, et al. Selection for Mutational Robustness in Finite Populations.. J. Theor. Biol. Nov 2006;243:181-90
Abstract
We investigate the evolutionary dynamics of a finite population of RNA sequences replicating on a neutral network. Despite the lack of differential fitness between viable sequences, we observe typical properties of adaptive evolution, such as increase of mean fitness over time and punctuated-equilibrium transitions, after initial mutation-selection balance has been reached. We find that a product of population size and mutation rate of approximately 30 or larger is sufficient to generate selection pressure for mutational robustness, even if the population size is orders of magnitude smaller than the neutral network on which the population resides. Our results show that quasispecies effects and neutral drift can occur concurrently, and that the relative importance of each is determined by the product of population size and mutation rate.
Mesh Headings (Keywords): Animals, Base Sequence, Evolution, Molecular, Models, Genetic, Mutation, Neural Networks (Computer), Nucleic Acid Conformation, Population Density, RNA, Selection (Genetics)
Check for Full Text / PubMed Unique Identifier (PMID): 16901510
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