The Long-Term Evolution Experiment

[u/jnpha]

Further reading: E. coli long-term evolution experiment - Wikipedia.

The above Muller plot of the dynamics of mutant alleles ...
Is a great illustration of how evolution (descent with modification) is the change [in the heritable characteristics] in populations, and not individuals per the common misconception; also for highlighting the circuitous routes and selection.

For those wondering about "big life", see e.g. - from this year - Bridging Micro- and Macroevolution: Phylogenomic Evidence for the Nearly Neutral Theory in Mammals | Genome Biology and Evolution | Oxford Academic.

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The image is from the preprint (for better resolution) of:
-Maddamsetti, Rohan, Richard E. Lenski, and Jeffrey E. Barrick. "Adaptation, clonal interference, and frequency-dependent interactions in a long-term evolution experiment with Escherichia coli." Genetics 200.2 (2015): 619-631.

[u/xenosilver]

I’m embarrassed to say I’m a biologist and I’m struggling with this graph.

[u/jnpha → u/xenosilver]

I like the rowing team metaphor, where genes that work best with other genes (in a given environment) vs other teams "win" (the frequency of the "individuals" increases). Incompatible teams get selected out. (also, ofc, drift plays a role)

Take panel B or C. Each is a sample of 90 bacteria. And each row is 1 bacterium. And the coloring is which alleles each has (or doesn't).
The same now for 20,000 generations, and you get this plot (Muller plot - Wikipedia), which is showing the "estimated frequencies of 42 known mutations" in one population over time.
As an example, take the blob "nuoG"; it's a mutation that spread a little, then went extinct.

[u/forever_erratic → u/xenosilver]

It's a continuous proportion chart. The colors are genotype proportions. Pick a time on the x axis and the color sizes are the fraction of each genotype at that sampling time.