The Role of Heritable Tumors in Evolution of Development: a New Theory of Carcino-evo-devo

摘要

The hypothesis of evolution by tumor neofunctionalization (the "mainhypothesis") describes the possible role of hereditary tumors in evolution. Thepresent article examines the relationship of the main hypothesis to otherbiological theories. As shown in this paper, the main hypothesis does notcontradict to the existing biological theories, but fills the lacunas betweenthem and explains some unexplained (or not completely understood) questions.Common features of embryonic development and tumorigenesis are described byseveral recognized theories. Similarities between normal development andtumorigenesis suggest that tumors could participate in the evolution ofontogenesis and in the origin of new cell types, tissues and organs. A widespectrum of non-trivial explanations and non-trivial predictions in differentfields of biology, suggested by the main hypothesis, is an indication of itsfundamental nature and the potential to become a new biological theory, atheory of the role of tumors in evolution of development, or .