title: Evolving functional and structural dynamism in coupled Boolean networks.
abstract: This article uses a recently presented abstract, tunable Boolean regulatory network model to further explore aspects of mobile DNA, such as transposons. The significant role of mobile DNA in the evolution of natural systems is becoming increasingly clear. This article shows how dynamically controlling network node connectivity and function via transposon-inspired mechanisms can be selected for to significant degrees under coupled regulatory network scenarios, including when such changes are heritable. Simple multicellular and coevolutionary versions of the model are considered.
authors.affiliation: University of the West of England.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bull
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000502:physiology*; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements
keywords: Coevolution; RBNK model; discrete dynamical systems; mobile DNA; multicellularity