utility function

'phage Lambda's genome was a trip to map
there's too  much information for the space
until you grasp the genes all overlap
three reading-frames, three meanings for each base
where each mutation must affect three genes
Darwinian selection is impaired
each quantum change is tripled and that means
lethality more often than repair
but evolution needs variety
selecting small improvements from the stack
immobile in thy fearful symmetry
the Red Queen's Race will drop you off the pack
such density in code comes at a cost
improvement opportunities are lost