0000000001309482

AUTHOR

Sinéad Collins

showing 3 related works from this author

Epigenetic mutations can both help and hinder adaptive evolution.

2015

Epigenetic variation is being integrated into our understanding of adaptation, yet we lack models on how epigenetic mutations affect evolution that includes de novo genetic change. We model the effects of epigenetic mutations on the dynamics and endpoints of adaptive walks—a process where a series of beneficial mutations move a population towards a fitness optimum. We use an individual-based model of an asexual population, where mutational effects are drawn from Fisher's geometric model. We find cases where epigenetic mutations speed adaptation or result in populations with higher fitness. However, we also find cases where they slow adaptation or result in populations with lower fitness. Th…

0301 basic medicinePopulationAdaptation BiologicaladaptationBiologyEpigenesis Genetic03 medical and health sciencesevolutionGeneticsComputer SimulationEpigeneticseducationEcology Evolution Behavior and SystematicsGeneticseducation.field_of_studyFisher's geometric modelNatural selectionepigeneticsModels Geneticta1184Biological Evolution030104 developmental biologyPhenotypeEvolutionary biologyFisher's geometric modelMutationta1181genetic assimilationFitness effectsGenetic FitnessAdaptationGenetic assimilationAdaptive evolutionMolecular ecology
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Epigenetic and Genetic Contributions to Adaptation in Chlamydomonas

2017

Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation or histone modifications, can be transmitted between cellular or organismal generations. However, there are no experiments measuring their role in adaptation, so here we use experimental evolution to investigate how epigenetic variation can contribute to adaptation. We manipulated DNA methylation and histone acetylation in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii both genetically and chemically to change the amount of epigenetic variation generated or transmitted in adapting populations in three different environments (salt stress, phosphate starvation, and high CO2) for two hundred asexual generations. We find that reducing the …

0106 biological sciences0301 basic medicinehiilidioksidiEpigenomicsAdaptation Biological01 natural sciencestolerance (physical)Epigenesis GeneticEpigenomicssietokyky2. Zero hungerGeneticsExperimental evolutionepigeneettinen periytyminenSalt Tolerancegreen algaeAdaptation PhysiologicalHistoneDNA methylationepigenetic inheritancephosphate starvationBiologyEnvironment010603 evolutionary biologysuolapitoisuus03 medical and health sciencesviherlevätGenetic variationGeneticsEpigeneticssalt contentexperimental evolutionravinnepitoisuusMolecular BiologyGeneEcology Evolution Behavior and Systematicssalt tolerancefosfaatitta1183ChlamydomonasGenetic Variationadaptive walkcarbon dioxideDNA Methylation030104 developmental biologyepigenetic mutationMutationbiology.proteinta1181methylationAdaptationDirected Molecular EvolutionChlamydomonas reinhardtii
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Data from: Epigenetic mutations can both help and hinder adaptive evolution

2015

Epigenetic variation is being integrated into our understanding of adaptation, yet we lack models on how epigenetic mutations affect evolution that includes de novo genetic change. We model the effects of epigenetic mutations on the dynamics and endpoints of adaptive walks-a process where a series of beneficial mutations move a population towards a fitness optimum. We use an individual-based model of an asexual population, where mutational effects are drawn from Fisher's geometric model. We find cases where epigenetic mutations speed adaptation or result in populations with higher fitness. However, we also find cases where they slow adaptation or result in populations with lower fitness. Th…

medicine and health careEvolutionary TheoryMedicineLife sciences
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