TY - JOUR

T1 - Crisis of current genetic concepts and the way to resolve it

AU - Tikhodeyev, Oleg

N1 - Conference code: 3

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Statement of the Problem: During last 30 years, most of the basic genetic terms (mutation, recombination, genotype, gene, allele, etc.) became fuzzy due to the discovery of multiple non-canonical phenomena like inheritance of acquired traits, protein inheritance, paramutations, and genotrophy. As a result, there is a significant gap between factual material and current genetic concepts, thus reflecting the need for a paradigm shift. And modern genetic concepts are required, which will be equally valid for all known canonical and non-canonical genetic phenomena. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: We accomplished a critical analysis of current genetic concepts (gene theory, mutation theory, the chromosome theory of inheritance, the DNA theory of inheritance) to find the key origins of the terminological fuzziness. Findings: The current concepts stand on the idea that any genetic term simultaneously describes three following aspects: Phenomenology; the source of variation and the underlying mechanism. For instance, any mutation is considered as an alteration which is stable and hereditable, stochastically arising, and affecting DNA sequences. We name this idea �??the integral concept of variability�?�. Meanwhile, the available factual material clearly demonstrates that the above-mentioned aspects are autonomous from each other and thus cannot be covered by the same term. Some hereditable alterations gradually decline, some are clearly predictable under certain environmental influences, some do not affect DNA sequences, and some alterations of DNA sequences are not heritable. We propose that each genetic term should describe only one aspect of variability. This idea (we name it �??the differential concept of variability�?�) was already shown to be successful for a lot of genetic terms. Conclusion & Significance: The way to resolve the fuzziness of genetic terminology and the crisis of current genetic concepts is a paradigm shift based on the differential concept of variability.

AB - Statement of the Problem: During last 30 years, most of the basic genetic terms (mutation, recombination, genotype, gene, allele, etc.) became fuzzy due to the discovery of multiple non-canonical phenomena like inheritance of acquired traits, protein inheritance, paramutations, and genotrophy. As a result, there is a significant gap between factual material and current genetic concepts, thus reflecting the need for a paradigm shift. And modern genetic concepts are required, which will be equally valid for all known canonical and non-canonical genetic phenomena. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: We accomplished a critical analysis of current genetic concepts (gene theory, mutation theory, the chromosome theory of inheritance, the DNA theory of inheritance) to find the key origins of the terminological fuzziness. Findings: The current concepts stand on the idea that any genetic term simultaneously describes three following aspects: Phenomenology; the source of variation and the underlying mechanism. For instance, any mutation is considered as an alteration which is stable and hereditable, stochastically arising, and affecting DNA sequences. We name this idea �??the integral concept of variability�?�. Meanwhile, the available factual material clearly demonstrates that the above-mentioned aspects are autonomous from each other and thus cannot be covered by the same term. Some hereditable alterations gradually decline, some are clearly predictable under certain environmental influences, some do not affect DNA sequences, and some alterations of DNA sequences are not heritable. We propose that each genetic term should describe only one aspect of variability. This idea (we name it �??the differential concept of variability�?�) was already shown to be successful for a lot of genetic terms. Conclusion & Significance: The way to resolve the fuzziness of genetic terminology and the crisis of current genetic concepts is a paradigm shift based on the differential concept of variability.

UR - https://www.hilarispublisher.com/conference-abstracts/scientific-tracks-abstracts/molecular-biology-nucleic-acids-2018-proceedings-tracks-743.html

UR - https://www.hilarispublisher.com/proceedings/crisis-of-current-genetic-concepts-and-the-way-to-resolve-it-13252.html

M3 - Meeting Abstract

VL - 7

SP - 59

JO - Molecular Biology: Open Access

JF - Molecular Biology: Open Access

SN - 2168-9547

IS - S

Y2 - 27 August 2018 through 28 August 2018

ER -