Free fitness that always increases in evolution

摘要: I here introduce a free fitness function in population biology, which monotonically increases with time and takes its maximum at the evolutionary equilibrium. By suitably defining an "index" for each state, is expressed as average index plus entropy term. In many cases, has biologically clear meaning, such logarithmic mean fitness. The technique applicable to any Markov process model (either continuous or discrete) positive steady state. discuss four examples from various branches of biology: (1) one-locus-two-allele system genetics mutation, selection, random genetic drift; (2) dynamics quantitative characters; (3) molecular evolution model; (4) ecological succession model. Introducing clarifies balance between systematic forces (e.g. natural selection successional trend toward climax) disturbing processes drift).