Identify genotypic mechanisms that drive replicated phenotypes across biological scales

Determine which specific forms of genotypic replication—such as identical amino acid substitutions at the same site, distinct substitutions within a single gene, convergent changes across different genes within the same genetic network, or changes across distinct genetic networks—most commonly underlie replicated phenotypic evolution, and ascertain how their prevalence depends on trait complexity and phylogenetic divergence.

Background

The paper outlines multiple levels at which genotypic replication can occur, ranging from site-specific amino acid changes to changes within genes, across genes in a network, or across distinct networks, any of which may produce similar phenotypic outcomes.

Empirical examples show that simple phenotypic replication does not always map to obvious genotypic replication and vice versa, underscoring uncertainty about which genetic mechanisms most frequently drive replicated phenotypes at different evolutionary and trait scales.