A mouse in a clock: A new gene in an old genome

A mouse in a clock

An exploration on thinking

About the ‘function’ of new genes



One can think of organisms

As clocks


Each individual

Has gears

Hands

Levers

Springs

A whole bunch of parts

Each fulfilling a purpose


This set of necessary

Harmonious parts

Are the old genes

Genes that interact with each other

Like clockwork

To make a clock work


Now imagine

You put a tiny mouse

Inside that grandmother clock

What will happen to the clock


One might think chaos

the mouse will mess stuff up

Step on gears

Chew on wood

Gets stuck

The clock will break


But maybe

The mouse

Will find a nice space

Away from the parts

A safe little corner

To call home


That is what a new gene is

It could break the clock

But it could also find itself

Very comfortable

Among the clockwork

(Art by https://x.com/Rechi_C/status/1931375647383077039. I haven't seen the Great Mouse Detective is many, many years, but thought this a most appropriate image).