On the Possibility of Constructive Neutral Evolution

Journal of Molecular Evolution 49 (2):169-181 (1999)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The neutral theory often is presented as a theory of "noise" or silent changes at an isolated "molecular level", relevant to marking the steady pace of divergence, but not to the origin of biological structure, function, or complexity. Nevertheless, precisely these issues can be addressed in neutral models, such as those elaborated here in regard to scrambled ciliate genes, gRNA-mediated RNA editing, the transition from self-splicing to spliceosomal splicing, and the retention of duplicate genes. All of these are instances of a more general scheme of "constructive neutral evolution" that invokes biased variation, epistatic interactions, and excess capacities to account for a complex series of steps giving rise to novel structures or operations. The directional and constructive outcomes of these models are not due to neutral allele fixations per se, but to these other factors. Neutral models of this type may help to clarify the poorly understood role of non-selective factors in evolutionary innovation and directionality.

Author's Profile

Arlin Stoltzfus
University of Maryland (system-wide page)

Analytics

Added to PP
2012-10-15

Downloads
1,198 (#8,839)

6 months
74 (#51,473)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?