ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gene redundancy

Okay kiddo, so you know how sometimes we have more than one toy that can do the same thing? Like you might have two different types of balls to play with. Well, genes can be like that too!

When we talk about gene redundancy, it means that there are multiple genes in our bodies that do the same job. Just like how you might have two balls that you can play catch with, your body has two genes that work together to do something important.

Now, you might be wondering, "Why do we need more than one gene to do a job?" Great question! Sometimes, having redundancies can be helpful in case something goes wrong. If one of the genes isn't working properly, the other one can step in and help out. Kind of like how if one of your toys breaks, you can still play with the other one and have just as much fun.

Scientists study gene redundancy to better understand how our bodies work and how we can stay healthy. They can also use this knowledge to develop new medicines and treatments for diseases that are caused by problems with our genes.

So, gene redundancy might seem a little confusing at first, but it's really just like having more than one toy that does the same thing! And just like how you can always find a way to have fun even if one of your toys isn't working, our bodies have backup plans in case something goes wrong with our genes.