There is redundancy in the genetic code, in the receptors and proteins, and the neurons in the brain. Developmentally, the brain makes more neurons than needed and then prunes the unnecessary elements, commonly known as the “use it or lose it” rule. Thus, redundancy or excess in neuroscience or in nature seems to be part of the design, not a flaw.
Guiding Questions:
- What is your favorite example in your field of excess or redundancy?
- Why does that redundancy initially appear unnecessary or inefficient?
- What significant purpose does the excess/redundancy serve?
About the Contributor
Soaleha Shams, PhD, is a Canadian neuroscientist interested in neuroscience of social behavior, both typical and atypical expressions. Shams studies social behavior of zebrafish as a tool to understand other social vertebrates and to make disease models for neuropsychiatric disorders.
