"Mutagenesis Is Often Futile Bacterial populations are estimated to spend most of their time under strong growth limitation ( 53 , 55 ) , and many of these stresses can not be relieved by mutation ( e.g. , lack of any carbon source , exposure to extreme physical conditions ) . If mutagenesis were induced by such stresses , it would create deleterious mutations without hope of benefit . A mechanism for stress-induced mutagenesis might be advantageous if cells could determine that ( a ) the problem is solvable by mutation and ( b ) that death is assured if no mutation is forthcoming . Without such prescience , cells with a mechanism for stress-induced mutagenesis would be eliminated by repeated rounds of futile mutagenesis ."
"In other words , a cell trying to 'survive , thrive and reproduce ' via a self-induced state of stochastic hypermutation would most likely just end up killing itself ..."
"Without such prescience , cells with a mechanism for stress-induced mutagenesis would be eliminated by repeated rounds of futile mutagenesis ."
"a cell trying to 'survive , thrive and reproduce ' via a self-induced state of stochastic hypermutation would most likely just end up killing itself"