D. W. Anderson

The paper describes how two distinct enzymes evolved from a common ancestor through different mutational paths, leading to divergent molecular and phenotypic outcomes.

The paper uses phylogenetic analysis and simulations to show that the common ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 and RaTG13 had high ACE2 binding affinity, suggesting latent human infectivity potential.

The paper shows that secondary environmental factors influence the evolutionary adaptation of an enzyme by shifting the adaptive landscape and altering fitness peaks.