Quantitative analysis of mutation and selection in self-replicating RNA

Mutation and selection as principles of Darwinian evolution have contributed a wealth to qualitative insight and understanding of complex biological organizations. However, for quantitative measurements of Darwinian evolution, only model systems are sufficiently simple to allow calculation of values for the relevant evolution parameters. The model system used for our study comprises short-chained RNA species whose self-replication is catalyzed by Qβ replicase. In this system, phenotypic expression of a genotype is reduced to its efficiency in directing its own synthesis.