Evolution favors flatter paths when fitness outcomes are equal, study finds
A study from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology reveals that evolution is not purely random when organisms face multiple paths of equal fitness. Populations tend to drift toward 'flatter' evolutionary landscapes, which provide greater robustness and resilience against future mutations.
Why it matters
Understanding these evolutionary dynamics helps scientists predict how biological systems adapt and survive in changing environments.
by Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Comparison of evolutionary dynamics (ED) simulations with the Gaussian-approximation theory. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2605142123 A surprising discovery by Technion researchers sheds new light on the dynamics of evolution. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , the study shows that when an organism has several evolutionary paths available with equal fitness, the path it follows is not necessarily chosen at random.
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