Design principles of multi-map variation in biological systems

Complexity in biology is often described using a multi-map architecture, where the genotype, representing the encoded information, is mapped to the functional level, known as the phenotype, which is then connected to a latent phenotype we refer to as fitness. This underlying architecture governs the processes that drive evolution. Moreover, natural selection, along with other neutral forces, can modify these maps. At each hierarchical level, variation is observed. Here, I propose the need to establish principles that can aid in understanding the transformation of variation within this multi-map architecture. Specifically, I will introduce three, related to the presence of modulators, constraints, and the modular channeling of variation. By comprehending these design principles in various biological systems, we can gain better insights into the mechanisms underlying these maps and their evolutionary dynamics.