posted 08. May 2006 22:32                    

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Redundant genes have only recently been discovered. That is because their existence cannot be deduced from classic genetic experiments (although some Mendelian genetics can be understood from redundancies). These genes are usually part of regulatory networks, and the peculiar thing is that they can be inactivated without any effect on reproductive success (=fitness). Genetic redundancy only became apparent when biologists interested in gene function developed gene-knockout strategies. With the remarkable observation that most knockouts do not have a phenotype.

Because there is NO association with gene duplication and genetic redundancy (this has been shown over and over in many organisms, now) this is the deathblow to any long-age evolutionary theory. Darwinian theory dramatically fails on another front too: selection. Natural selection cannot explain the existence of back up systems, which is essentially what genetic redundancy is. Just like sexual reproduction, as you argue, genetic redundancy creates robustness of organisms, and provides another level of stability.

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We can only understand the biological discoveries of the last decade from the perspective of recent creational events (genetic redundancy with no association with gene duplication, rapid deterioration of genomes, high mutations rates within species, soft tissue recovery from dinosaurs, etc).

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