A1 Journal article (refereed)
The Adaptive Potential of Nonheritable Somatic Mutations (2022)
El potencial adaptativo de las mutaciones somáticas no heredables

Majic, P., Erten, E. Y., & Payne, J. L. (2022). The Adaptive Potential of Nonheritable Somatic Mutations. American Naturalist, 200(6), 755-772. https://doi.org/10.1086/721766

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Majic, Paco; Erten, E. Yagmur; Payne, Joshua L.

Journal or series: American Naturalist

ISSN: 0003-0147

eISSN: 1537-5323

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 07/10/2022

Volume: 200

Issue number: 6

Pages range: 755-772

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/721766

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/91999

Web address of parallel published publication (pre-print): https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.30.442123v1

Abstract

The adaptive potential of nonheritable somatic mutations has received limited attention in traditional evolutionary theory because heritability is a fundamental pillar of Darwinian evolution. We hypothesized that the ability of a germline genotype to express a novel phenotype via nonheritable somatic mutations can be selectively advantageous and that this advantage will channel evolving populations toward germline genotypes that constitutively express the phenotype. We tested this hypothesis by simulating evolving populations of developing organisms with an impermeable germline-soma separation navigating a minimal fitness landscape. The simulations revealed the conditions under which nonheritable somatic mutations promote adaptation. Specifically, this can occur when the somatic mutation supply is high, when few cells with the advantageous somatic mutation are required to increase organismal fitness, and when the somatic mutation also confers a selective advantage at the cellular level. We therefore provide proof of principle that nonheritable somatic mutations can promote adaptive evolution via a process we call “somatic genotypic exploration.” We discuss the biological plausibility of this phenomenon as well as its evolutionary implications.

Keywords: evolution theory; mutations; evolutionary biology

Free keywords: somatic mutations; Weissman; evolutionary theory; development; adaptive landscape; multilevel selection

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2023

JUFO rating: 3