Evolutionary Plasticity and Innovations in Complex Metabolic Reaction Networks

João F. Matias Rodrigues, Andreas Wagner · 2009 · PLoS Computational Biology

Summary. This paper studies how metabolic networks in bacteria evolve and adapt. The researchers found that these networks are robust to gene mutations and can rapidly acquire new metabolic abilities through gene loss and horizontal gene transfer. Networks with identical metabolic functions differ substantially in their reactions, yet can be connected through single mutations. This robustness enables evolutionary innovation by allowing organisms to explore new metabolic capabilities while maintaining survival.

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Rodrigues, J. F. M., & Wagner, A.. (2009). Evolutionary Plasticity and Innovations in Complex Metabolic Reaction Networks. PLoS Computational Biology. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000613

@article{rodrigues-2009-evolutionary-plasticity-innovations-complex-metabolic,
  title   = {Evolutionary Plasticity and Innovations in Complex Metabolic Reaction Networks},
  author  = {João F. Matias Rodrigues and Andreas Wagner},
  journal = {PLoS Computational Biology},
  year    = {2009},
  doi     = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000613},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000613}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Evolutionary Plasticity and Innovations in Complex Metabolic Reaction Networks
AU  - João F. Matias Rodrigues
AU  - Andreas Wagner
JO  - PLoS Computational Biology
PY  - 2009
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000613
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Details

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000613
Countries: Switzerland, United States
Regions: Europe, North America
Categories: innovation-theory, general-innovation
Added: 2026-04-28