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Continuity in Evolution: On the Nature of Transitions

Author

Listed:
  • W. Fontana
  • P. Schuster

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 is exemplified by calculating the shape neighborhood of a tRNA 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.

Suggested Citation

  • W. Fontana & P. Schuster, 1998. "Continuity in Evolution: On the Nature of Transitions," Working Papers ir98039, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
    • Handle: RePEc:wop:iasawp:ir98039
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bårbel M. R. Stadler & Peter F. Stadler & Peter R. Wills, 2001. "Evolution in Systems of Ligation-Based Replicators," Working Papers 01-09-052, Santa Fe Institute.
    2. James P. Crutchfield & Erik van Nimwegen, 1999. "The Evolutionary Unfolding of Complexity," Working Papers 99-02-015, Santa Fe Institute.
    3. Christian M. Reidys & Peter F. Stadler, 1998. "Neutrality in Fitness Landscapes," Working Papers 98-10-089, Santa Fe Institute.
    4. BŠrbel M. R. Stadler & Peter F. Stadler & Max Shpak & GŸnter P. Wagner, 2001. "Recombination Spaces, Metrics, and Pretopologies," Working Papers 01-02-011, Santa Fe Institute.
    5. Jan Cupal & Stephan Kopp & Peter F. Stadler, 1999. "RNA Space Shape Technology," Working Papers 99-03-022, Santa Fe Institute.
    6. Rendel, Mark D., 2011. "Adaptive evolutionary walks require neutral intermediates in RNA fitness landscapes," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 79(1), pages 12-18.
    7. Krishnendu Chatterjee & Andreas Pavlogiannis & Ben Adlam & Martin A Nowak, 2014. "The Time Scale of Evolutionary Innovation," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-7, September.
    8. Campos, Paulo R.A & Adami, Christoph & Wilke, Claus O, 2002. "Optimal adaptive performance and delocalization in NK fitness landscapes," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 304(3), pages 495-506.
    9. Evandro Ferrada, 2014. "The Amino Acid Alphabet and the Architecture of the Protein Sequence-Structure Map. I. Binary Alphabets," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, December.
    10. Miguel A Fortuna & Luis Zaman & Charles Ofria & Andreas Wagner, 2017. "The genotype-phenotype map of an evolving digital organism," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, February.
    11. Tobias Sikosek & Erich Bornberg-Bauer & Hue Sun Chan, 2012. "Evolutionary Dynamics on Protein Bi-stability Landscapes can Potentially Resolve Adaptive Conflicts," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(9), pages 1-17, September.
    12. Roger D Kouyos & Gabriel E Leventhal & Trevor Hinkley & Mojgan Haddad & Jeannette M Whitcomb & Christos J Petropoulos & Sebastian Bonhoeffer, 2012. "Exploring the Complexity of the HIV-1 Fitness Landscape," PLOS Genetics, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(3), pages 1-9, March.

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