HEREDITARY BIOCHEMICAL DIVERSITY IN EVOLU TION AND DEVELOPMENT

Results of long-term studies of Russian authors on regularities of exp ression of hereditary biochemical diversity in evolution and developme nt are reviewed. Primary attention is given to the concepts of genetic monomorphism and genetic stability of population systems, principles of adaptive gene pool structure and optimum genetic diversity, histori cal and conservation genetics, the concept of the multilevel gene expr ession, and temporal regulation of ontogenetic functioning of gene clu sters coding for enzymes, A universal genetic approach to the problems of evolution and ontogeny is proposed. A population is regarded as a superorganism whose key property is the hierarchic structure of its ge netic stability, from the stability of monomorphic genes via stability of polymorphic gene frequencies in a multilevel population system to the stability of the total amount of gene diversity in this system, A multicellular organism is also regarded as a developing hierarchical s ystem of populations of cells and genes interacting in a nonrandom fas hion. This maintains stability of metabolic processes and is expressed in consistent correlations between monogenic and polygenic morphophys iological characters. Properties of both organisms are determined by t he adaptive heterozygosity optimum, the disturbance of which has negat ive consequences for both individuals and populations. On the basis of these results and the concept on the common nature of evolutionary an d ontogenetic processes, the following conclusions are drawn: genetic processes can be either favorable or adverse for developing organisms and populations; the state of genetic processes can be determined by a nalysis of gene diversity and their deviations from the optimum, takin g into account the adaptive gene pool structure; and negative hazardou s consequences of extreme external effects at both the individual and population levels can be detected by methods of biochemical genetics i n specially planned monitoring programs, Knowledge of normal processes of realization of hereditary information in evolution of populations and in ontogeny opens up new perspectives in detection of unfavorable processes and their correction. This approach proved promising both fo r preventive and clinical medicine and for exploitation and artificial reproduction of biological resources.