TY - JOUR
T1 - Collective evolution and the genetic code
AU - Vetsigian, Kalin
AU - Woese, Carl
AU - Goldenfeld, Nigel
PY - 2006/7/11
Y1 - 2006/7/11
N2 - A dynamical theory for the evolution of the genetic code is presented, which accounts for its universality and optimality. The central concept is that a variety of collective, but non-Darwinian, mechanisms likely to be present in early communal life generically lead to refinement and selection of innovation-sharing protocols, such as the genetic code. Our proposal is illustrated by using a simplified computer model and placed within the context of a sequence of transitions that early life may have made, before the emergence of vertical descent.
AB - A dynamical theory for the evolution of the genetic code is presented, which accounts for its universality and optimality. The central concept is that a variety of collective, but non-Darwinian, mechanisms likely to be present in early communal life generically lead to refinement and selection of innovation-sharing protocols, such as the genetic code. Our proposal is illustrated by using a simplified computer model and placed within the context of a sequence of transitions that early life may have made, before the emergence of vertical descent.
KW - Horizontal gene transfer
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746092088&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1073/pnas.0603780103
DO - 10.1073/pnas.0603780103
M3 - Article
C2 - 16818880
AN - SCOPUS:33746092088
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 103
SP - 10696
EP - 10701
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 28
ER -