Structure of deviations from optimality in biological systems.

ABSTRACT: Optimization theory has been used to analyze evolutionary adaptation. This theory has explained many features of biological systems, from the genetic code to animal behavior. However, these systems show important deviations from optimality. Typically, these deviations are large in some particular components of the system, whereas others seem to be almost optimal. Deviations from optimality may be due to many factors in evolution, including stochastic effects and finite time, that may not allow the system to reach the ideal optimum. However, we still expect the system to have a higher probability of reaching a state with a higher value of the proposed indirect measure of fitness. In systems of many components, this implies that the largest deviations are expected in those components with le

SUBMITTER: Perez-Escudero A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2777958 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature