Eigen model with correlated multiple mutations and solution of error catastrophe paradox in the origin of life

Abstract

We consider the Eigen model with non-Poisson distribution of mutation number. We apply the Hamilton-Jacobi equation method to solve the model and calculate the mean fitness. We find that the error threshold depends on the correlation, and the suggested mechanism may give a simple solution to the error catastrophe paradox in the origin of life. © 2012 The Physical Society of Japan.