PubMed · 10943663
RNA shape space topology.
Abstract
The distinction between continuous and discontinuous transitions is a long-standing problem in the theory of evolution. Because continuity is a topological property, we present a formalism that treats the space of phenotypes as a (finite) topological space, with a topology that is derived from the probabilities with which one phenotype is accessible from another through changes at the genotypic level. The shape space of RNA secondary structures is used to illustrate this approach. We show that evolutionary trajectories are continuous if and only if they follow connected paths in phenotype space.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
J Cupal, S Kopp, P F Stadler. 2000. RNA shape space topology.. https://doi.org/10.1162/106454600568294
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.