Ricerc@Sapienza

The need to account for all currently available experimental observations

concerning the gene nature, has reshaped the concept of gene turning it from the

essentially mechanistic unit, predominant during the '70s, into a quite abstract

open and generalized entity, whose contour appears less defined as compared to the

past. Here we propose the essence of the gene to be considered double faced. In

this respect genotypic and phenotypic entities of a gene would coexist and mix

reciprocally. This harmonizes present knowledge with current definitions and

predisposes for remodelling of our thinking as a consequence of future discoveries.

A two sided view of the gene also allows to combine the genetic and epigenetic

aspects in a unique solution, being structural and functional at the same time and

simultaneously able to include the different levels in an overlapping unicum.