Mutation in autocatalytic reaction networks. An analysis based on perturbation theory (Q1193525)

The present article shows that perturbation theory constitutes a useful tool in analytical investigations of replication-mutation systems. The mutation field is considered as a perturbation of the replicator equation, while the perturbation expansion is a Taylor series in a mutation parameter. The expansion coefficients of the Taylor expansion and the shift vector are subjected to the conventional Rayleigh- Schrödinger perturbation expansion series. Qualitative shifts in the positions of rest-points and limit cycles are predicted by application of two theorems: the rest point migration theorem and the limit cycle migration theorem. Quantitative shifts are calculated from a perturbation expansion, the perturbation parameter being chosen according to the mutation model applied. The important feature of the present contribution is that it can also be applied to various nonlinear systems. The last section provides application examples: (1) first-order equations for quasi-species models, and (2) second-order equations for weak selection case, the Schögl model, the hypercycle, the three species model, and the chaotic attractor.