Abstract
In this paper we examine a set of nonlinear rate equations (devised by M. Eigen (1971)) which describe the process of selection in a collection of self-reproducing, macromolecular information carriers. We construct exact solutions to the equations for the case of constant rate parameters and constant error distributions. The solutions allow the direct assessment of the effect of mutations on the “selective value” parameters discussed by Eigen as well as the distribution of the molecular species selected in steady state. In addition we show that the selection process may be characterized by an extremal principle.
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Literature
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Jones, B.L., Enns, R.H. & Rangnekar, S.S. On the theory of selection of coupled macromolecular systems. Bltn Mathcal Biology 38, 15–28 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02459537
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02459537