If, as many scientists believe, most of the human genome consists of vestigial evolutionary remnants that serve no useful purpose, then we could compress it to 60MB of concentrated information. Having recently installed Office 2001, I am humbled by its relatively simple capabilities. Much of the power in bioprocessing comes from the use of feedback in the electrical, physical and chemical domains. It turns out that you can transform muscle types with electrical stimulation. In an experimental procedure called dynamic cardiomyoplasty, a skeletal muscle is removed from the back and wrapped around an ailing heart.
Different phenotypes can express from the same genotype.
Biological systems also react to physical feedback. Motion and physical stresses also shape fetal skeletal development. Cartilage and muscle can be forced to convert to bone under the right chemical and physical stimulation. Our learning in this area is rapidly expanding. I recently had the honor of meeting with several researchers at NASA Ames.