Fitness landscapes shape evolutionary trajectories of organisms from "summary" of Complexity by Mitchell M. Waldrop
The idea that fitness landscapes play a crucial role in shaping the evolutionary trajectories of organisms is a central concept in the study of complexity. Imagine a rugged terrain, with peaks representing high fitness levels and valleys representing low fitness levels. Organisms are like climbers, constantly seeking to climb higher peaks to maximize their fitness. However, the path they take is not always straightforward. As organisms evolve, they navigate this complex landscape, facing various challenges and opportunities along the way. If an organism finds itself on a peak, it may be difficult to move to a higher peak because it would have to pass through a valley of lower fitness. This phenomenon is known as "genetic drift," where random changes in a populat...
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