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Genome complexity, robustness and genetic interactions in digital organisms

Nature volume 400, pages 661–664 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Digital organisms are computer programs that self-replicate, mutate and adapt by natural selection1,2,3. They offer an opportunity to test generalizations about living systems that may extend beyond the organic life that biologists usually study. Here we have generated two classes of digital organism: simple programs selected solely for rapid replication, and complex programs selected to perform mathematical operations that accelerate replication through a set of defined ‘metabolic’ rewards. To examine the differences in their genetic architecture, we introduced millions of single and multiple mutations into each organism and measured the effects on the organism's fitness. The complex organisms are more robust than the simple ones with respect to the average effects of single mutations. Interactions among mutations are common and usually yield higher fitness than predicted from the component mutations assuming multiplicative effects; such interactions are especially important in the complex organisms. Frequent interactions among mutations have also been seen in bacteria, fungi and fruitflies4,5,6. Our findings support the view that interactions are a general feature of genetic systems7,8,9.

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Figure 1: Proportion of single point mutations that are lethal for digital organisms.
Figure 2: Log10-transformed mean fitness as a function of number of point mutations for simple and complex classes of digital organisms.
Figure 3: Proportions of mutational pairs classified according to their interaction.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. De Visser, S. Elena, D. Lenski, P. Moore, A. Moya and S. Remold for comments, discussion and technical assistance. Access to a Beowulf system was provided by the Center for Advanced Computing Research at the California Institute of Technology. This work was supported by an NSF grant to C.A. and a fellowship from the MacArthur Foundation to R.E.L.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824, Michigan, USA

    Richard E. Lenski

  2. Computation and Neural Systems, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, 91125, California, USA

    Charles Ofria

  3. Kellogg Radiation Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, 91125, California, USA

    Christoph Adami

  4. Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, University of California, Los Angeles, 90095, California, USA

    Travis C. Collier

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  1. Richard E. Lenski
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  4. Christoph Adami
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Correspondence to Richard E. Lenski or Charles Ofria.

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Lenski, R., Ofria, C., Collier, T. et al. Genome complexity, robustness and genetic interactions in digital organisms. Nature 400, 661–664 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/23245

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