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Crisis of the term “mutation” and its resolution in the context of the differential concept of variability

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Abstract

The traditional views on mutations are critically analyzed. It is shown that in modern genetics, the term mutation is used inadequately, covering an overly wide range of phenomena. We propose a strict definition of this term, which allows clear distinguishing mutations from all other variability manifestations. The main approaches to classify mutations are discussed. The meaning of the term “combinatorial variability” is also specified.

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  1. St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia

    O. N. Tikhodeyev

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Original Russian Text © O.N. Tikhodeyev, 2014, published in Uspekhi Sovremennoi Biologii, 2014, Vol. 134, No. 4, pp. 350–362.

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Tikhodeyev, O.N. Crisis of the term “mutation” and its resolution in the context of the differential concept of variability. Biol Bull Rev 5, 119–129 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1134/S2079086415020103

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