Mutations that lead out of the valley onto a new fitness peak are, of course, beneficial mutations.

So maybe there's a master biological computer in each species, a processor of some sort that tots up possible beneficial mutations.

However, populations of bacteria are large enough that a few individuals will have beneficial mutations.

Gunther Wagner said, "So, a beneficial mutation happened right in your lab?"

Selection for beneficial mutations can cause a species to evolve into forms better able to survive in their environment, a process called adaptation.

The story deals with views on evolution, beneficial mutation, and natural selection.

Recent, preliminary studies also suggest that melanism might be linked to beneficial mutations in the immune system.

If there are any beneficial mutations, then is equal to one of these at random.

If there are no beneficial mutations, then is equal to a random neutral mutation.

She appears to have rare beneficial mutations in her genome, which might have some protective function, according to reports from the Dutch team.