The evolutionary origin of complex features
The evolutionary origin of complex features
复制标题
DOI：
10.1038/nature01568
复制
发表时间：
2003-05-08
期刊：
影响因子：
64.8
通讯作者：
Adami, C
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Lenski, RE;Ofria, C;Adami, C
进化论面临的一个长期挑战是，它能否解释复杂生物特征的起源。我们使用数字生物体来研究这个问题，数字生物体是一种能够自我复制、变异、竞争和进化的计算机程序。数字生物群体通常进化出执行复杂逻辑功能的能力，这些功能需要协调执行许多基因组指令。复杂的功能是在较早进化的较简单功能的基础上进化而来的，前提是这些功能也是有选择性的。然而，没有特定的中间阶段是发展复杂功能所必需的。第一个能够执行复杂功能的基因型与其不执行功能的亲本只有一到两个突变，但与祖先的许多突变也对新功能至关重要。在某些情况下，当它们出现时是有害的突变在复杂特征的进化中充当了垫脚石。这些发现表明，复杂的功能是如何通过随机突变和自然选择产生的。
A long-standing challenge to evolutionary theory has been whether it can explain the origin of complex organismal features. We examined this issue using digital organisms-computer programs that self-replicate, mutate, compete and evolve. Populations of digital organisms often evolved the ability to perform complex logic functions requiring the coordinated execution of many genomic instructions. Complex functions evolved by building on simpler functions that had evolved earlier, provided that these were also selectively favoured. However, no particular intermediate stage was essential for evolving complex functions. The first genotypes able to perform complex functions differed from their non-performing parents by only one or two mutations, but differed from the ancestor by many mutations that were also crucial to the new functions. In some cases, mutations that were deleterious when they appeared served as stepping-stones in the evolution of complex features. These findings show how complex functions can originate by random mutation and natural selection.