Evolution of complex adaptations in molecular systems

A central challenge in evolutionary biology concerns the mechanisms by which complex adaptations arise. Such adaptations depend on the fixation of multiple, highly specific mutations, where intermediate stages of evolution seemingly provide little or no benefit. It is generally assumed that the establishment of complex adaptations is very slow in nature, as evolution of such traits demands special population genetic or environmental circumstances. However, blueprints of complex adaptations in molecular systems are pervasive, indicating that they can readily evolve. We discuss the prospects and limitations of non-adaptive scenarios, which assume numerous neutral or deleterious steps in the evolution of complex adaptations. Next, we examine how complex adaptations can evolve by natural selection in a changing environment. Finally, we argue that molecular ‘springboards’ such as phenotypic heterogeneity and promiscuous interactions facilitate this process by providing access to new adaptive paths. The evolution of complex adaptations poses conceptual challenges. Here, the authors discuss adaptive and non-adaptive scenarios in the evolution of complex adaptations and propose molecular mechanisms that provide access to new adaptive paths.

• Publication year

  2017

• Venue

  Nature Ecology & Evolution

• Publication date

  2017-06-14

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1038/s41559-017-0228-1PMID 28782044PMCID 5540182
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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