[jhedwards]

> reproducing a different structure with the same genes

This a-ha moment for me with respect to this is that some biological processes are of the type [random process -> selection -> stable result]. This means that the genetics actually _don't_ store the information for what is ultimately produced, only the information necessary to trigger a random exploratory process and to stabilize that process when it reaches a suitable target. This is one reason why animals can flexibly adapt their development to different conditions as described in the above article.

[immibis]

For example, human genetics encode how to make a big ball of neurons that can learn by themselves.