[Hereditary biochemical diversity in the processes of evolution and individual development]

Results of long-term studies of Russian authors on regularities of expression of hereditary biochemical diversity in evolution and development 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, historical and conservation genetics, the concept of the multilevel gene expression, and temporal regulation of ontogenetic functioning of gene clusters 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 genetic 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 system of populations of cells and genes interacting in a nonrandom fashion. This maintains stability of metabolic processes and is expressed in consistent correlations between monogenic and polygenic morphophysiological characters. Properties of both organisms are determined by the adaptive heterozygosity optimum, the disturbance of which has negative consequences for both individuals and populations. On the basis of these results and the concept on the common nature of evolutionary and 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 analysis of gene diversity and their deviations from the optimum, taking into account the adaptive gene pool structure; and negative hazardous consequences of extreme external effects at both the individual and population levels can be detected by methods of biochemical genetics in 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 for preventive and clinical medicine and for exploitation and artificial reproduction of biological resources.