The G. Mendel's model for hereditary factors (genes) and appeared on its base the genecentric paradigm, which postulates that genes control not only inheritance of simple traits of plants and animals, but determine ontogenesis, morphogenesis and all cardinal tendencies of life evolution, are examined. In the article, it is indicated, that along with the discovery of discrete heredity forPisum sativum L., G. Mendel by fact described, in addition to well-known genotypic and paratypic variability, a one more variability for plants of generaHieracium L., which now is denominated as an epigenetic variability. Analysis of literature permits to evolve the idea, that the real distribution of genotypes is determined not only by the G. Mendel's lows for inheritance, but by structure of genomes (a ploidy) and by a manner of plant seeds reproduction (uniparental or biparental). In particular, the facts about the manner of reproduction of seeds of different species and genera demonstrate, that very often the reproductive characters are difficultly dedicated as mendelian, and their inheritance usually has an epigenetic nature. Distinctions in the manner of reproduction of Pisumseeds (double impregnation) and in Hieracium species (apogamy) illustrate the polymorphism of reproductive strategies of two botanical genera and can not be determined, by no means, by activity of postulated specific «genes of parthenogenesis» or their absence. In our opinion, a partenogenetic development of plants embryos can be attributed to epigenetic variability, and it is determined by receiving the external or internal signals, which make the switch from one development ("Priroda", 1987, vol. 10, p. 105). I questioned N.I. Vavilov -why splitting of hybrids between spring and winter wheats results in anything butMethodology of biological science of the 20 th century is based upon the gene-centric paradigm (GCP) according to which genes control not only single simple traits in plants or animals, but they also determine the whole process of individual development from birth to death. GCP postulates that changes of genes (mutations) and genetic recombinations are responsible for major trends in life's evolution on Earth. Moreover, there's a particular point of view that "the basic unit of selection is not a species, a group or even, strictly speaking, an individual. The main unit is a gene" (1, p. 243). GCP is comparable with geocentric paradigm of a solar system prevalent in people's mind before Copernicus.The idea of genes as a primary force in ontogeny, as well as in evolution of life, was established so long ago and then so often repeated that now it's almost forgotten -this was just a hypothesis. In recent years, it was suggested that "omnipotence of genes is a popular metaphor in the scientific community" (2, p. 46). Along with it, there is a very reasonable opinion that the unit of selection is not a gene (3). Some authors highlight the dramatic situation in post-genomic era of biology conditioned by many factors including GCP. Living cell is...
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