Continuity in Evolution: On the Nature of Transitions

Author:

Fontana Walter1,Schuster Peter1

Affiliation:

1. Institut für Theoretische Chemie, Universität Wien, Währingerstrasse 17, A-1090 Wien, Austria, Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA, and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria.

Abstract

To distinguish continuous from discontinuous evolutionary change, a relation of nearness between phenotypes is needed. Such a relation is based on the probability of one phenotype being accessible from another through changes in the genotype. This nearness relation is exemplified by calculating the shape neighborhood of a transfer RNA secondary structure and provides a characterization of discontinuous shape transformations in RNA. The simulation of replicating and mutating RNA populations under selection shows that sudden adaptive progress coincides mostly, but not always, with discontinuous shape transformations. The nature of these transformations illuminates the key role of neutral genetic drift in their realization.

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Subject

Multidisciplinary

Reference27 articles.

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2. Let i j k and l denote positions of bases in the linear sequence and ( i j ) denote a base pair. The secondary structure of an RNA sequence is defined as the set P of allowed base pairs (here Watson-Crick pairs plus GU) that minimize free energy subject to a no-knot condition requiring that if ( i j ) and ( k l ) are both in P then i < k < j implies i < l < j (that is base pairs do not cross). The secondary structure is computed with our implementation (10) of a dynamic programming algorithm originally from (21) which is widely used in laboratories to assist in the prediction of secondary structures. The procedure is based on empirical energy parameters (22).

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