Generation of variation and a modified mean fitness principle: Necessity is the mother of genetic invention

Yoav Ram, Lee Altenberg, Uri Liberman, Marcus W. Feldman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Generation of variation may be detrimental in well-adapted populations evolving under constant selection. In a constant environment, genetic modifiers that reduce the rate at which variation is generated by processes such as mutation and migration, succeed. However, departures from this reduction principle have been demonstrated. Here we analyze a general model of evolution under constant selection where the rate at which variation is generated depends on the individual. We find that if a modifier allele increases the rate at which individuals of below-average fitness generate variation, then it will increase in frequency and increase the population mean fitness. This principle applies to phenomena such as stress-induced mutagenesis and condition-dependent dispersal, and exemplifies “Necessity is the mother of genetic invention.”

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-8
Number of pages8
JournalTheoretical Population Biology
Volume123
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2018

Funding

FundersFunder number
Department of Information and Computer Sciences
Department of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of Hawai‘i
Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research
Mathematical Biosciences Institute
Morrison Institute for Population and Resources Studies
National Science Foundation Award
Stanford Center for Computational
University of Hawai?i
National Science Foundation0931642
Stanford University
Center for Computational, Evolutionary and Human Genomics, Stanford University

    Keywords

    • Evolutionary genetic stability
    • Increased variance production
    • Mean fitness increase

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