Mutational Meltdown
High mutation without feedback mechanisms equals death.
High mutation without feedback mechanisms equals death.
The optimal mutation rate maximizes evolvability: high enough to generate useful variation, low enough to avoid mutational meltdown. Models suggest optimal rates are near the 'error threshold' - the highest mutation rate a population can sustain without fitness collapsing (Eigen 1971). RNA viruses operate near this threshold, balancing extreme adaptability against genetic integrity. If mutation rates exceed this threshold, deleterious mutations accumulate faster than selection can purge them, leading to population fitness collapse.
Business Application of Mutational Meltdown
Quibi's failure exemplifies organizational mutational meltdown: changing everything simultaneously (format, platform, technology, business model) without validation generated massive variation without selection to filter bad ideas. High mutation without feedback mechanisms equals death. Innovation rates must be balanced against validation capacity.