Complex role of space in the crossing of fitness valleys by asexual populations.

Abstract excerpt

The evolution of complex traits requires the accumulation of multiple mutations, which can be disadvantageous, neutral or advantageous relative to the wild-type. We study two spatial (two-dimensional) models of fitness valley crossing (the constant-population Moran process and the non-constant-population contact process), varying the number of loci involved and the degree of mixing. We find that spatial...

Topics

• Evolution, Molecular
• Models, Genetic
• Mutation