HomeNature & BiologyTop 10 Biological Species with the Lowest Mutation Rates
Top 10Updated 2026年3月15日

Top 10 Biological Species with the Lowest Mutation Rates

This ranking is based on whole-genome sequencing and evolutionary genetics studies, evaluating species that exhibit exceptionally high replication fidelity per generation or per nucleotide site. Extremely low mutation rates are crucial for maintaining genomic stability, providing deep insights into longevity, evolutionary stasis, and radiation resistance mechanisms.

Current #1
Certain Thermophilic Archaea

Interesting Facts & Summary

Miracles of Genomic Stability

Mutation rates are not uniform across nature. Genomic stability is often linked to effective population size, replication mechanisms, and repair fidelity.

  • Viruses vs. Archaea: While some viruses mutate rapidly, certain extremophilic archaea have evolved highly precise DNA polymerases.
  • Longevity Champions: Organisms like Hydra and the Immortal Jellyfish maintain extremely low mutation rates through specialized somatic repair mechanisms.
  • Fun Fact: Some highly evolved eukaryotes protect specific genomic regions to suppress mutations, achieving phenotypic stability over millions of years.
RankOrganism NameMutation Rate per site per generation (10^-9)Notes
Certain Thermophilic Archaea
0.05Highly efficient DNA repair enzymes
Hydra
0.12Exceptional regenerative and stem cell maintenance
Turritopsis dohrnii
0.15Lifecycle reversal coupled with precise repair
4
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Haploid)
0.2High fidelity under laboratory conditions
5
Arabidopsis thaliana
0.7Benchmark for genomic repair in plants
6
Escherichia coli (Optimized strains)
0.8Reduced errors via replication checkpoints
7
Caenorhabditis elegans
1.2Highly conserved genome despite short cycle
8
Heterocephalus glaber
1.5Robust anti-tumor and DNA repair mechanisms
9
Drosophila melanogaster
1.8Genetic stability post-high evolution
10
Homo sapiens (Germline)
2Complex but with tight replication checkpoints

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