Strong Bounds for Evolution in Undirected Graphs

Abstract

This work studies the generalized Moran process, as introduced by Lieberman et al. [Nature, 433:312-316, 2005]. We introduce the parameterized notions of selective amplifiers and selective suppressors of evolution, i.e. of networks (graphs) with many "strong starts" and many "weak starts" for the mutant, respectively. We first prove the existence of strong selective amplifiers and of (quite) strong selective suppressors. Furthermore we provide strong upper bounds and almost tight lower bounds (by proving the "Thermal Theorem") for the traditional notion of fixation probability of Lieberman et al., i.e. assuming a random initial placement of the mutant.