(653a) Predicting Evolution

The metabolic network of a cell can be decomposed into discrete elementary modes that contribute, each with a certain probability, to the overall flux through the metabolism.    These modes are cell function supporting, fundamental pathways that represent permissible, discrete states of the metabolism.  Recently, we have theoretically shown that the flux through individual elementary modes is distributed according to the Boltzmann distribution law if cells developed regulation patterns in an unbiased way. Adaptive evolution experiments suggest that cells indeed evolve towards such state.  Moreover, knowledge of this state enables prediction of the adaptive mutations occurring during evolution.  A summary of the developed theory will be presented together with supporting experimental evidence.