Fitness-associated recombination on rugged adaptive landscapes

Abstract

A negative correlation between fitness and recombination rates seems to exist in various organisms. In this article we suggest that a correlation of that kind may play an important role in the evolution of complex traits. We study the effects of such fitness-associated recombination (FAR) in a simple two-locus deterministic model, as well as in a multi-loci NK rugged adaptive landscape. In both models studied, FAR results in faster adaptation and higher average population fitness, compared with uniform-rate recombination.