Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: We establish an analogy between the Fokker–Planck equation describing evolutionary landscape dynamics and the Schrödinger equation which characterizes quantum mechanical particles, showing that a population with multiple genetic traits evolves analogously to a wavefunction under a multi-dimensional energy potential in imaginary time. Furthermore, we discover within this analogy that the stationary population distribution on the landscape corresponds exactly to the ground-state wavefunction. This mathematical equivalence grants entry to a wide range of analytical tools developed by the quantum mechanics community, such as the Rayleigh–Ritz variational method and the Rayleigh–Schrödinger perturbation theory, allowing us not only the conduct of reasonable quantitative assessments but also exploration of fundamental biological inquiries. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these tools by estimating the population success on landscapes where precise answers are elusive, and unveiling the ecological consequences of stress-induced mutagenesis—a prevalent evolutionary mechanism in pathogenic and neoplastic systems. We show that, even in an unchanging environment, a sharp mutational burst resulting from stress can always be advantageous, while a gradual increase only enhances population size when the number of relevant evolving traits is limited. Our interdisciplinary approach offers novel insights, opening up new avenues for deeper understanding and predictive capability regarding the complex dynamics of evolving populations.
Source: Quantum Reports
Authors: Vi D. Ao, Duy V. Tran, Kien T. Pham, Duc M. Nguyen, Huy D. Tran, Tuan K. Do, Van H. Do, Trung V. Phan
Institutions: Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Trường Đại học Khoa học và Công nghệ Hà Nội, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, University of Chicago, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Oklahoma, Yale University
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,557
OpenAlex ID: W4388081135