Summary
When the complexity of a developmental system evolves to a certain point, appreciable variation must occur in the process. The problem the biologist faces is whether this point constitutes a limit to the evolution of complexity in developmental systems. If not, what mechanisms are employed to cope with the problem ? The problem—essentially one in “custom fitting” of parts, — and the possible solution(s) to it that have evolved are discussed. The antibody producing system appears to be one that “solves” the custom-fitting problem.
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Woese, C.R. The custom fitting problem and the evolution of developmental systems. J Mol Evol 3, 109–113 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01796556
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01796556