A Stochastic Model for the Development of Complex Bateson- Dobzhanksy-Muller Incompatibilities Incorporating Protein-Protein Interaction Network Structure

Bateson-Dobzhansky-Muller Incompatibilities are theorized to be one of the main causes of post-zygotic reproductive isolating barriers. While many quantitative models for the development of such incompatibilities exist, few have dealt with the effect the structure of protein-interaction networks has on the development of incompatibilities, and none deal with incompatibilities between more than two loci. We develop a stochastic model for the development of complex Bateson-Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities that incorporates the structure of protein-protein interaction networks, and demonstrate that the structure of the network can drastically change the importance of digenic interactions toward the rate of divergence between populations.