Hamiltonian model for multidimensional epistasis

Abstract

We propose and solve a Hamiltonian model for multidimensional epistastatic interactions between beneficial mutations. The model is able to give rise either to a phase transition between two equilibrium states, without any coexistence, or exhibits a state where hybrid species can coexist, with gradual passage from one wild type to another. The transition takes place as a function of the "tolerance" of the environment, which we define as the amount of noise in the system.