La reiterazione di alcuni geni nelle cellule eucariotiche è qui interpretata come una ridondanza informazionale in senso cibernetico, comparsa nel corso dell'evoluzione in concomitanza con la distinzione tra linea somatica e linea germinale. Questa ridondanza genica tamponerebbe gli effetti fenotipici delle mutazioni somatiche ela sua comparsa sarebbe stata quindi essenziale per l'evoluzione di organismi viventi complessi. Questo punto di vista implica una efficiente rettificazione dei geni ridondanti i cui possibili meccanismi sono qui discussi.
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Con il contributo del Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali