Symmetry breaking and adaptation: Evidence from a 'toy model' of a virus
Por:
Vargas J.M., Stephens C.R., Waelbroeck H., Zertuche F.
Publicada:
1 ene 1999
Resumen:
We argue that an induced breaking of the genetic synonym symmetry due to the action of genetic operators such as mutation can enhance the adaptability of a species to changes in the environment. In the case of a virus, the claim is that the codon bias in the neutralization epitope improves the virus' ability to generate mutants that evade the induced immune response. We support our claim with a simple 'toy model' of a viral epitope evolving in competition with the immune system. The effective selective advantage of a higher mutability leads to a dominance of codons that favor non-synonymous mutations. As further evidence we present a simple model for a genetic regulatory network that leads to adaptive evolution in a population of giraffes by means of an induced symmetry breaking rather than through any direct selective advantage. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
Filiaciones:
Vargas J.M.:
Facultad de Ingeniería, UNAM, C.U. 04510 D.F., Circuito Exterior, Mexico
Stephens C.R.:
Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, UNAM, A. Postal 70-543, D.F. 04510, Circuito Exterior, Mexico
Waelbroeck H.:
Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, UNAM, A. Postal 70-543, D.F. 04510, Circuito Exterior, Mexico
Zertuche F.:
Instituto de Matemáticas, UNAM, U. Cuernavaca, A.P. 273-3, A., Morelos, Mexico
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