Phase Transition in Sexual Reproduction and Biological Evolution

TL;DR

This paper uses a Monte Carlo model to reveal a phase transition in biological evolution, showing how population size and crossover frequency influence evolutionary strategies and speciation.

Contribution

It introduces a phase transition framework in biological evolution, linking population dynamics with crossover frequency and inbreeding effects.

Findings

Large populations favor purifying selection

Small inbred populations favor haplotype complementing

Phase transition observed at critical crossover frequency

Abstract

Using Monte Carlo model of biological evolution we have discovered that populations can switch between two different strategies of their genomes' evolution; Darwinian purifying selection and complementing the haplotypes. The first one is exploited in the large panmictic populations while the second one in the small highly inbred populations. The choice depends on the crossover frequency. There is a power law relation between the critical value of crossover frequency and the size of panmictic population. Under the constant inbreeding this critical value of crossover does not depend on the population size and has a character of phase transition. Close to this value sympatric speciation is observed.