Darwinian Aspects of Molecular Evolution at Sublinear Propagation Rates

Abstract

Mean fitness is non-decreasing in the symmetry sector of the frequency trajectory followed in competitive replication at sublinear propagation rates (parabolic time course). This sector contains the pairwise symmetric distribution of species frequencies and its neighboring states, and represents at least half the possible states of an evolving sublinear system. States in the non-symmetry sector produce a negative rate of change in mean fitness. The heterogeneous steady state attained in a finite sublinear system is destabilized by formation of a variant with above-threshold fitness. Evolution in the post-steady-state interval elevates the fitness threshold for coexistence. Contrary to the proposition that ‘parabolic growth invariably results in the survival of all competing species’, only species with sufficient fitness to avoid subthreshold fitness survive.