An evolutionary attractor is a state toward which evolution tends. [1] [2] Most often it means that adaptation is moving a population of a species towards a particular goal – that goal is the attractor. [1] [2] It less commonly means any other outcome of evolution and/or a larger group than one population.
Attractors are important to evolutionary epidemiology because what goal a pathogen is pursuing – and its speed of progress towards more transmissible and/or more virulent attractors – radically alter the actual damage a pathogen will do. [1] [3] [2] It also shapes the course of a species invasion. [1]
An evolutionary attractor is a state toward which evolution tends. [1] [2] Most often it means that adaptation is moving a population of a species towards a particular goal – that goal is the attractor. [1] [2] It less commonly means any other outcome of evolution and/or a larger group than one population.
Attractors are important to evolutionary epidemiology because what goal a pathogen is pursuing – and its speed of progress towards more transmissible and/or more virulent attractors – radically alter the actual damage a pathogen will do. [1] [3] [2] It also shapes the course of a species invasion. [1]