Modeling Genotype to Phenotype: A Search for Natural Objects of Selection

Watch a research seminar from the Broad Institute's Models, Inference and Algorithms series that explores the complex relationship between genotypes and phenotypes in evolutionary biology. Begin with a primer on Flux Balance Analysis and shadow prices in constrained optimization presented by Brian Cleary from Boston University's Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences. Then dive into the main presentation by PhD candidate Aedan Brown, who investigates how metabolic systems serve as a mathematically tractable model for studying non-trivial genotype-to-phenotype relationships. Learn how evolutionary simulations and theoretical analysis reveal that selection at the genetic level can be non-identifiable, while selection on collective modes in phenotype space emerges as a more natural framework. Explore the development of collective mode theory and gain insights into how this approach helps clarify the roles of genotype and phenotype in evolution while providing explanations for variability in polygenic traits.