Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:17:27 BST CiteULike: wilbur Schuster http://www.citeulike.org/user/wilbur/author/Schuster CiteULike.org en-gb Copyright © 2004-2008 citeulike.org http://www.citeulike.org/user/wilbur/article/1261699 <i>Science, Vol. 280, No. 5368. (29 May 1998), pp. 1451-1455.</i><br /><br />To distinguish continuous from discontinuous evolutionary change, a relation of nearness between phenotypes is needed. Such a relation is based on the probability of one phenotype being accessible from another through changes in the genotype. This nearness relation is exemplified by calculating the shape neighborhood of a transfer RNA secondary structure and provides a characterization of discontinuous shape transformations in RNA. The simulation of replicating and mutating RNA populations under selection shows that sudden adaptive progress coincides mostly, but not always, with discontinuous shape transformations. The nature of these transformations illuminates the key role of neutral genetic drift in their realization. Continuity in evolution: on the nature of transitions. W Fontana P Schuster Science, Vol. 280, No. 5368. (29 May 1998), pp. 1451-1455. 2007-04-27T23:51:14-00:00 1998 Science 0036-8075 280 5368 1451 1455 evolution http://www.citeulike.org/user/wilbur/article/232120 <i>J. Theor. Biol. (1998)</i><br /><br />Understanding which phenotypes are accessible from which genotypes is fundamental for understanding the evolutionary process. This notion of accessibility can be used to define a relation of nearness among phenotypes, independently of their similarity. Because of neutrality, phenotypes denote equivalence classes of genotypes. The definition of neighborhood relations among phenotypes relies, therefore, on the statistics of neighborhood relations among equivalence classes of genotypes in genotype ... Shaping space: The possible and the attainable in RNA genotype-phenotype mapping W Fontana P Schuster J. Theor. Biol. (1998) 2005-06-19T16:50:10-00:00 1998 J. Theor. Biol. genotype phenotype