Search results for "evolutionary innovations"
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TESTING SIMILARITY COEFFICIENTS FOR ANALYSIS OF THE FOSSIL RECORD USING CLUSTERING METHODS: THE PALAEOZOIC FLORA AS A STUDY CASE
2020
This paper reports a global methodological approach based on the similarity and clustering methods of the Palaeozoic plant fossil record using a comparative approach between two similarity measures: the Jacard and Raup-Crick Coefficients. The results show that although the Raup-Crick Coefficients clearly have the potential for providing more robust results, the consequences of the extinction processes are better reflected in the similarity analysis based on the Jaccard Coefficients. On the other hand, the cluster analysis based on UPGMA algorithm shows four robust clusters and reveals new evidence for the singularity of Mississippian flora. Finally, the results obtained reveal that similari…
The effect of genetic robustness on evolvability in digital organisms
2008
Abstract Background Recent work has revealed that many biological systems keep functioning in the face of mutations and therefore can be considered genetically robust. However, several issues related to robustness remain poorly understood, such as its implications for evolvability (the ability to produce adaptive evolutionary innovations). Results Here, we use the Avida digital evolution platform to explore the effects of genetic robustness on evolvability. First, we obtained digital organisms with varying levels of robustness by evolving them under combinations of mutation rates and population sizes previously shown to select for different levels of robustness. Then, we assessed the abilit…