Evolution of robustness to noise and mutation in gene expression dynamics.

ABSTRACT: Phenotype of biological systems needs to be robust against mutation in order to sustain themselves between generations. On the other hand, phenotype of an individual also needs to be robust against fluctuations of both internal and external origins that are encountered during growth and development. Is there a relationship between these two types of robustness, one during a single generation and the other during evolution? Could stochasticity in gene expression have any relevance to the evolution of these types of robustness? Robustness can be defined by the sharpness of the distribution of phenotype; the variance of phenotype distribution due to genetic variation gives a measure of 'genetic robustness', while that of isogenic individuals gives a measure of 'developmental robustness'. Thro

SUBMITTER: Kaneko K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1855988 | biostudies-literature | 2007 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature