Quasispecies theory for evolution of modularity

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2015 Jan;91(1):012714. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.91.012714. Epub 2015 Jan 28.

Abstract

Biological systems are modular, and this modularity evolves over time and in different environments. A number of observations have been made of increased modularity in biological systems under increased environmental pressure. We here develop a quasispecies theory for the dynamics of modularity in populations of these systems. We show how the steady-state fitness in a randomly changing environment can be computed. We derive a fluctuation dissipation relation for the rate of change of modularity and use it to derive a relationship between rate of environmental changes and rate of growth of modularity. We also find a principle of least action for the evolved modularity at steady state. Finally, we compare our predictions to simulations of protein evolution and find them to be consistent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Evolution*
  • Environment
  • Models, Biological*
  • Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Proteins