Recombination facilitates genetic assimilation of new traits in gene regulatory networks.

Abstract excerpt

A new phenotypic variant may appear first in organisms through plasticity, that is, as a response to an environmental signal or other nongenetic perturbation. If such trait is beneficial, selection may increase the frequency of alleles that enable and facilitate its development. Thus, genes may take control of such traits, decreasing dependence on nongenetic disturbances, in a process called genetic assimilation....

Topics

• Animals
• Biological Evolution
• Gene Regulatory Networks
• Genetic Variation
• Mutation
• Phenotype
• Recombination, Genetic
• Selection, Genetic