How do McClintock's ideas on genomic plasticity relate to evolution today?
My work on transposable elements and the genome's responsiveness to challenge has profound implications for understanding evolution. The ability of the genome to reorganize and generate novelty through gene movement provides a source of genetic variation that natural selection can act upon. This dynamic aspect suggests that genomes are not merely passive repositories of information but active participants in their own evolution. The 'genomic shock' I observed can be a catalyst for evolutionary change, introducing new gene combinations and regulatory patterns. This concept helps explain how organisms adapt and diversify over time, a continuous process of genomic innovation.
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