Ebook: Biological Evolution and Statistical Physics

This set of lecture notes gives a first coherent account of a novel aspect of the living world that can be called biological information. The book presents both a pedagogical and state-of-the art roadmap of this rapidly evolving area and covers the whole field, from information which is encoded in the molecular genetic code to the description of large-scale evolution of complex species networks. The book will prove useful for all those who work at the interface of biology, physics and information science.

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This set of lecture notes gives a first coherent account of a novel aspect of the living world that can be called biological information. The book presents both a pedagogical and state-of-the art roadmap of this rapidly evolving area and covers the whole field, from information which is encoded in the molecular genetic code to the description of large-scale evolution of complex species networks. The book will prove useful for all those who work at the interface of biology, physics and information science.

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This set of lecture notes gives a first coherent account of a novel aspect of the living world that can be called biological information. The book presents both a pedagogical and state-of-the art roadmap of this rapidly evolving area and covers the whole field, from information which is encoded in the molecular genetic code to the description of large-scale evolution of complex species networks. The book will prove useful for all those who work at the interface of biology, physics and information science.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-VIII
Statistical significance and extremal ensemble of gapped local hybrid alignment....Pages 3-21
On the design of optimization criteria for multiple sequence alignment....Pages 22-36
Red queen dynamics and the evolution of translational redundancy and degeneracy....Pages 37-54
A testable genotype-phenotype map: modeling evolution of RNA molecules....Pages 55-81
Evolutionary perspectives on protein structure, stability, and functionality....Pages 82-107
The statistical approach to molecular phylogeny: Evidence for a nonhyperthermophilic common ancestor....Pages 111-121
Principles of cophylogenetic maps....Pages 122-147
Accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty in comparative studies of evolution and adaptation....Pages 148-161
The‘ shape’ of phylogenies under simple random speciation models....Pages 162-180
Fitness landscapes....Pages 183-204
Tempo and mode in quasispecies evolution....Pages 205-216
Multilevel processes in evolution and development: Computational models and biological insights....Pages 217-239
Evolutionary strategies for solving optimization problems....Pages 240-254
Review of biological ageing on the computer....Pages 255-267
Spatio-temporal modes of speciation....Pages 268-278
Food web structure and the evolution of ecological communities....Pages 281-298
Dynamics and topology of species networks....Pages 299-311
Modelling macroevolutionary patterns: An ecological perspective....Pages 312-337

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This set of lecture notes gives a first coherent account of a novel aspect of the living world that can be called biological information. The book presents both a pedagogical and state-of-the art roadmap of this rapidly evolving area and covers the whole field, from information which is encoded in the molecular genetic code to the description of large-scale evolution of complex species networks. The book will prove useful for all those who work at the interface of biology, physics and information science.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-VIII
Statistical significance and extremal ensemble of gapped local hybrid alignment....Pages 3-21
On the design of optimization criteria for multiple sequence alignment....Pages 22-36
Red queen dynamics and the evolution of translational redundancy and degeneracy....Pages 37-54
A testable genotype-phenotype map: modeling evolution of RNA molecules....Pages 55-81
Evolutionary perspectives on protein structure, stability, and functionality....Pages 82-107
The statistical approach to molecular phylogeny: Evidence for a nonhyperthermophilic common ancestor....Pages 111-121
Principles of cophylogenetic maps....Pages 122-147
Accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty in comparative studies of evolution and adaptation....Pages 148-161
The‘ shape’ of phylogenies under simple random speciation models....Pages 162-180
Fitness landscapes....Pages 183-204
Tempo and mode in quasispecies evolution....Pages 205-216
Multilevel processes in evolution and development: Computational models and biological insights....Pages 217-239
Evolutionary strategies for solving optimization problems....Pages 240-254
Review of biological ageing on the computer....Pages 255-267
Spatio-temporal modes of speciation....Pages 268-278
Food web structure and the evolution of ecological communities....Pages 281-298
Dynamics and topology of species networks....Pages 299-311
Modelling macroevolutionary patterns: An ecological perspective....Pages 312-337
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