Holobionts as Units of Selection and a Model of Their Population Dynamics and Evolution

116Citations
Citations of this article
167Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.
Get full text

Abstract

Holobionts, consisting of a host and diverse microbial symbionts, function as distinct biological entities anatomically, metabolically, immunologically, and developmentally. Symbionts can be transmitted from parent to offspring by a variety of vertical and horizontal methods. Holobionts can be considered levels of selection in evolution because they are well-defined interactors, replicators/reproducers, and manifestors of adaptation. An initial mathematical model is presented to help understand how holobionts evolve. The model offered combines the processes of horizontal symbiont transfer, within-host symbiont proliferation, vertical symbiont transmission, and holobiont selection. The model offers equations for the population dynamics and evolution of holobionts whose hologenomes differ in gene copy number, not in allelic or loci identity. The model may readily be extended to include variation among holobionts in the gene identities of both symbionts and host.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Roughgarden, J., Gilbert, S. F., Rosenberg, E., Zilber-Rosenberg, I., & Lloyd, E. A. (2018). Holobionts as Units of Selection and a Model of Their Population Dynamics and Evolution. Biological Theory, 13(1), 44–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13752-017-0287-1

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free