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xixixao on Jan 11, 2016 | parent | context | favorite | on: New finding: 600M years ago, a single mutation cha...

But why would a single mutation immediately disappear? Isn't it possible that several generations carried on without significant advantage or disadvantage, experiencing series of mutations until the last one provided the true advantage? (I would love to know if this is completely wrong)

steinsgate on Jan 11, 2016 [–]

It is possible, but I think if you calculate the probability of the neutral mutations happening in series, this probability is astronomically small.

It is possible for all the mutations to appear simultaneously as well. But again, the probability would be astronomically small.

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