[jwalsh07]

Explain to me what a "favorable mutation" is.

As a layman, I'd say one that adds information to the genome but like I said, I'm a layman. :-}

[js1138]

I suspect Southack may be referring to this:

http://nwcreation.net/articles/recombinationreview.html

[furball4paws]

I can't think of any kind of mutation that "adds information to the genome". The only way I can see this happening is through genetic recombination (yes, bacteria have sex), via the mechanisms transduction, transformation and conjugation. You just can't stick a whole gene's worth of DNA into a cell without getting it from somewhere.

[Doctor Stochastic]

As a layman, I'd say one that adds information to the genome but like I said, I'm a layman. :-}

A "favorable" mutation is one that increases the chances of having offspring. Unfavorable would mean that the chances of offspring were reduced. Neutral means that no tendence is introduced. These are all ex-post terms. Generally, one cannot give an ex-ante specification of which types of mutations fall into each catgory. A change in environment can change a mutation from favorable to unfavorable or vice versa.