Abstract

Is evolution predictable at the molecular level? The ambitious goal to answer this question requires an understanding of the mutational effects that govern the complex relationship between genotype and phenotype. In practice, it involves integrating systems-biology modelling, microbial laboratory evolution experiments and large-scale mutational analyses — a feat that is made possible by the recent availability of the necessary computational tools and experimental techniques. This Review investigates recent progresses in mapping evolutionary trajectories and discusses the degree to which these predictions are realistic.

Author affiliations

1. Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary.
2. Cambridge Systems Biology Centre and Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK.
3. Departments of Bioinformatics (CMBI) and Systems Biology (CSBB), Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. BOX 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Correspondence to: Csaba Pál¹ Email: cpal@brc.hu

Published online 2 August 2011