Survival-extinction phase transition in a bit-string population with mutation.

Abstract

A bit string model for the evolution of a population of haploid organisms , subject to competition , reproduction with mutation and selection is studied , using mean field theory an d Monte Carlo simulation s . We show that, depending on environmental flexibility an d genetic variability, the model exhibits a phase transition between extinction and survival. T h e mean field theory describes the infinite size limit, while simulations are used to study quasistationary properties.