Environment determines evolutionary trajectory in a constrained phenotypic space

David T. Fraebel, Harry Mickalide, Diane Schnitkey, Jason Merritt, Thomas E. Kuhlman, Seppe Kuehn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Constraints on phenotypic variation limit the capacity of organisms to adapt to the multiple selection pressures encountered in natural environments. To better understand evolutionary dynamics in this context, we select Escherichia coli for faster migration through a porous environment, a process which depends on both motility and growth. We find that a trade- off between swimming speed and growth rate constrains the evolution of faster migration. Evolving faster migration in rich medium results in slow growth and fast swimming, while evolution in minimal medium results in fast growth and slow swimming. In each condition parallel genomic evolution drives adaptation through different mutations. We show that the trade-off is mediated by antagonistic pleiotropy through mutations that affect negative regulation. A model of the evolutionary process shows that the genetic capacity of an organism to vary traits can qualitatively depend on its environment, which in turn alters its evolutionary trajectory.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere24669
JournaleLife
Volume6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 27 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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