ABSTRACT
An agent-based computer simulation of death by inheritable mutations in a changing environment shows a maximal population, or avoids extinction, at some intermediate mutation rate of the individuals. Our results indicate that death seems needed to allow for evolution of the fittest, as required by a changing environment.
Simulação computacional de agentes individuais que se reproduzem e morrem por acúmulo de mutações herdadas mostra um máximo da população ou evita extinção, para taxas de mutação intermediárias. Assim, as mortes parecem necessárias para a evolução dos mais adaptados a um ambiente mutante.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Computer Simulation , Models, Genetic , Mutation/genetics , Population Dynamics , Selection, Genetic/genetics , Genetics, Population , Monte Carlo Method , Phenotype , Population Density , Quantitative Trait, HeritableABSTRACT
The sexual version of the Penna model of biological aging, simulated since 1996, is compared here with alternative forms of reproduction as well as with models not involving aging. In particular we want to check how sexual forms of life could have evolved and won over earlier asexual forms hundreds of million years ago. This computer model is based on the mutation-accumulation theory of aging, using bits-strings to represent the genome. Its population dynamics is studied by Monte Carlo methods