---
_id: '1932'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: The existence of complex (multiple-step) genetic adaptations that are "irreducible"
    (i.e., all partial combinations are less fit than the original genotype) is one
    of the longest standing problems in evolutionary biology. In standard genetics
    parlance, these adaptations require the crossing of a wide adaptive valley of
    deleterious intermediate stages. Here, we demonstrate, using a simple model, that
    evolution can cross wide valleys to produce "irreducibly complex" adaptations
    by making use of previously cryptic mutations. When revealed by an evolutionary
    capacitor, previously cryptic mutants have higher initial frequencies than do
    new mutations, bringing them closer to a valley-crossing saddle in allele frequency
    space. Moreover, simple combinatorics implies an enormous number of candidate
    combinations exist within available cryptic genetic variation. We model the dynamics
    of crossing of a wide adaptive valley after a capacitance event using both numerical
    simulations and analytical approximations. Although individual valley crossing
    events become less likely as valleys widen, by taking the combinatorics of genotype
    space into account, we see that revealing cryptic variation can cause the frequent
    evolution of complex adaptations.
acknowledgement: "Funded by National Institutes of Health. Grant Numbers: R01GM076041,
  R01GM104040         \r\n\r\nSimons Foundation\r\n\r\n"
article_processing_charge: No
arxiv: 1
author:
- first_name: Meredith
  full_name: Trotter, Meredith
  last_name: Trotter
- first_name: Daniel
  full_name: Weissman, Daniel
  id: 2D0CE020-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Weissman
- first_name: Grant
  full_name: Peterson, Grant
  last_name: Peterson
- first_name: Kayla
  full_name: Peck, Kayla
  last_name: Peck
- first_name: Joanna
  full_name: Masel, Joanna
  last_name: Masel
citation:
  ama: Trotter M, Weissman D, Peterson G, Peck K, Masel J. Cryptic genetic variation
    can make "irreducible complexity" a common mode of adaptation
    in sexual populations. <i>Evolution</i>. 2014;68(12):3357-3367. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12517">10.1111/evo.12517</a>
  apa: Trotter, M., Weissman, D., Peterson, G., Peck, K., &#38; Masel, J. (2014).
    Cryptic genetic variation can make &#38;quot;irreducible complexity&#38;quot;
    a common mode of adaptation in sexual populations. <i>Evolution</i>. Wiley-Blackwell.
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12517">https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12517</a>
  chicago: Trotter, Meredith, Daniel Weissman, Grant Peterson, Kayla Peck, and Joanna
    Masel. “Cryptic Genetic Variation Can Make &#38;quot;Irreducible Complexity&#38;quot;
    a Common Mode of Adaptation in Sexual Populations.” <i>Evolution</i>. Wiley-Blackwell,
    2014. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12517">https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12517</a>.
  ieee: M. Trotter, D. Weissman, G. Peterson, K. Peck, and J. Masel, “Cryptic genetic
    variation can make &#38;quot;irreducible complexity&#38;quot; a common mode of
    adaptation in sexual populations,” <i>Evolution</i>, vol. 68, no. 12. Wiley-Blackwell,
    pp. 3357–3367, 2014.
  ista: Trotter M, Weissman D, Peterson G, Peck K, Masel J. 2014. Cryptic genetic
    variation can make &#38;quot;irreducible complexity&#38;quot; a common mode of
    adaptation in sexual populations. Evolution. 68(12), 3357–3367.
  mla: Trotter, Meredith, et al. “Cryptic Genetic Variation Can Make &#38;quot;Irreducible
    Complexity&#38;quot; a Common Mode of Adaptation in Sexual Populations.” <i>Evolution</i>,
    vol. 68, no. 12, Wiley-Blackwell, 2014, pp. 3357–67, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12517">10.1111/evo.12517</a>.
  short: M. Trotter, D. Weissman, G. Peterson, K. Peck, J. Masel, Evolution 68 (2014)
    3357–3367.
date_created: 2018-12-11T11:54:47Z
date_published: 2014-12-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2025-09-29T12:10:43Z
day: '01'
department:
- _id: NiBa
doi: 10.1111/evo.12517
ec_funded: 1
external_id:
  arxiv:
  - '1310.6077'
  isi:
  - '000346075600001'
intvolume: '        68'
isi: 1
issue: '12'
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
  url: http://arxiv.org/abs/1310.6077
month: '12'
oa: 1
oa_version: Submitted Version
page: 3357 - 3367
project:
- _id: 25B07788-B435-11E9-9278-68D0E5697425
  call_identifier: FP7
  grant_number: '250152'
  name: Limits to selection in biology and in evolutionary computation
publication: Evolution
publication_status: published
publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
publist_id: '5162'
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: Cryptic genetic variation can make &quot;irreducible complexity&quot; a common
  mode of adaptation in sexual populations
type: journal_article
user_id: 317138e5-6ab7-11ef-aa6d-ffef3953e345
volume: 68
year: '2014'
...