Abstract
In biological systems, diversity is an important source of robustness. A stable
ecosystem, for example, contains many different species which occur in highly
conserved frequency distributions. If this diversity is lost and a few species
become dominant, the ecosystem becomes susceptible to perturbations such as
catastrophic fires, infestations, and disease. Similarly, health problems often
emerge when there is low genetic diversity within a species, as in the case of
endangered species or animal breeding programs. The verebrate immune system
offers a third example, providing each individual with a unique set of
immunological defenses, helping to control the spread of disease within a
population.
