Population genetics approach to the quasispecies model

A population genetics formulation of Eigen’s molecular quasispecies model [Naturwissenchaften 58, 465 (1971)] is proposed and several simple replication landscapes are investigated analytically. Our results show a remarkable similarity to those obtained with the original kinetics formulation of the quasispecies model. However, due to the simplicity of our approach, the space of the parameters that define the model can be thoroughly explored. In particular, for the single-sharp-peak landscape our analysis yields some interesting predictions such as the existence of a maximum peak height and a minimum molecule length for the onset of the error threshold transition. © 1996 The American Physical Society.