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A Paradoxical Evolutionary Mechanism in Stochastically Switching Environments.

ABSTRACT: Organisms with environmental sensors that guide survival are considered more likely to be favored by natural selection if they possess more accurate sensors. In this paper, we develop a theoretical model which shows that under certain conditions of environmental stochasticity, selection actually favors sensors of lower accuracy. An analogy between this counter-intuitive phenomenon and the well-known Parrondo's paradox is suggested.

SUBMITTER: Cheong KH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5064378 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A Paradoxical Evolutionary Mechanism in Stochastically Switching Environments.

Cheong Kang Hao KH Tan Zong Xuan ZX Xie Neng-Gang NG Jones Michael C MC

Scientific reports 20161014

Organisms with environmental sensors that guide survival are considered more likely to be favored by natural selection if they possess more accurate sensors. In this paper, we develop a theoretical model which shows that under certain conditions of environmental stochasticity, selection actually favors sensors of lower accuracy. An analogy between this counter-intuitive phenomenon and the well-known Parrondo's paradox is suggested. ...[more]

PMID: 27739447

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