Robustness, the inverse of noise, is a molecularly programmed feature of biological systems. The molecular networks of some organismal phenotypes like development are designed to maximize robustness, while other phenotypes like disease resistance have their pathways structured to allow for decreased robustness/increased noise to counteract evolution in the attacking organism.

Lachowiec et al. describe the specific molecular components that are utilized in networks to finely tune the proper level of robustness/noise for an array of phenotypes.