Speciation effect in the Penna aging model
We have simulated the evolution of diploid, sexually reproducing populations using the Penna model of aging. We have noted that diminishing the recombination frequency during the gamete production generates a specific diversity of genomes in the populations. When two populations independently evolving for some time were mixed in one environmental niche of the limited size and crossbreeding between them was allowed, the average lifespan of hybrids was significantly shorter than the lifespan of the individuals of parental lines. Another effect of higher hybrid mortality is the faster elimination of one parental line from the shared environment. The two populations living in one environment co-exist much longer if they are genetically separated - they compete as two species instead of crossbreeding. This effect can be considered as the first step to speciation - any barrier eliminating crossbreeding between these populations, leading to speciation, would favor the populations.
speciation recombination biological aging monte carlo simulation genetic linkage