Parallel genetic evolution within and between bacteriophage species of varying degrees of divergence.

ABSTRACT: Parallel evolution is the acquisition of identical adaptive traits in independently evolving populations. Understanding whether the genetic changes underlying adaptation to a common selective environment are parallel within and between species is interesting because it sheds light on the degree of evolutionary constraints. If parallel evolution is perfect, then the implication is that forces such as functional constraints, epistasis, and pleiotropy play an important role in shaping the outcomes of adaptive evolution. In addition, population genetic theory predicts that the probability of parallel evolution will decline with an increase in the number of adaptive solutions-if a single adaptive solution exists, then parallel evolution will be observed among highly divergent species. For this

SUBMITTER: Bollback JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2621170 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature