Regulatory networks may evolve to favor adaptive foresight

by Alejandro Couce

Pleiotropy—a single mutation altering many traits—has long been seen as hindering adaptation. A new study in PLOS Biology offers a striking counterexample, suggesting that regulatory networks may evolve to ensure mutations are simultaneously beneficial in correlated environments. Pleiotropy (a single mutation altering many traits) has long been seen as hindering adaptation. A new study in PLOS Biology offers a striking counterexample, suggesting that regulatory networks may evolve to ensure mutations are simultaneously beneficial in correlated environments.