Evolution of Evolvability?

Evolution depends upon variation generated by mutation. The rates at which mutations arise may therefore be fundamental in the ability of organisms to evolve. These rates can vary in a particular organism in response to the environment (e.g. how stressful it is; MacLean et al. 2013), that is 'Mutation Rate Plasticity'. We have identified a social component to such plasticity (Krasovec et al. 2014a), dependent on population densities (Krasovec et al. 2014b), which gives it particular evolutionary interest. It also raises questions about its role in communities, for instance biofilms (McBain 2009). Novel findings in our group suggest that such mutation rate plasticity could be very widespread, across domains of life. However, the extent, variation and nature of such mutation rate plasticity is currently unknown.

This project will address this gap in our understanding by asking how widely density dependent mutation rate plasticity occurs among different organisms, using experimental studies focused on yeast as a model system (Replansky et al. 2008), combined with appropriate mathematical modeling. Questions will include: Can we create models that predict the course of evolution based on mutation rate plasticity? We know various genes involved in mutation rate plasticity in bacteria, but how conserved are such mechanisms in eukaryotes?