Evolvability

'''Evolvability''' is defined as the capacity of a system for [[Adaptation|adaptation]] and adaptive evolution. Adaptive evolution is possible by generation of heritable phenotypic variation. Evolvability is the ability of a population of organisms to generate genetic diversity and phenotypic variation, so that it can evolve through natural selection.

Organisms must achieve a balance between [[Robustness|robustness]] and evolvability, that is, between resisting and allowing change. Too much robustness would destroy the ability to adapt to changing conditions, too much evolvability would destroy resilience and persistence.

== Articles ==

* Marc Kirschner and John Gerhart, [http://www.pnas.org/content/95/15/8420.abstract Evolvability], PNAS July 21 vol. 95 no. 15 (1998) 8420-8427 

* Richard E. Lenski, Jeffrey E. Barrick, Charles Ofria, [http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.0040428 Balancing Robustness and Evolvability], Proc. R. Soc. B 7 January vol. 275 no. 1630 (2008) 91-100 

[[Category:Basic Principles]] [[Category:Evolutionary Principles]] [[Category:Evolutionary Systems]]