Optimal Mutation Rates in Dynamic Environments [article]

Martin Nilsson, Nigel Snoad
2000 arXiv   pre-print
In this paper we study the evolution of the mutation rate for simple organisms in dynamic environments. A model with multiple fitness coding loci tracking a moving fitness peak is developed and an analytical expression for the optimal mutation rate is derived. Surprisingly it turns out that the optimal mutation rate per genome is approximately independent of genome length, something that also has been observed in nature. Simulations confirm the theoretical predictions. We also suggest an
more » ... tion for the difference in mutation frequency between RNA and DNA based organisms.
arXiv:physics/0004042v1 fatcat:dcyafufzpzgozehvsjfcooascy