Midline teratomas, mullerianosis, the multifariousness of gynaecological neoplasias, and the scrotum. Are they manifestations of a germ-soma barrier?

Empirical evidence and theoretical considerations suggest that there are mechanisms protecting the germ line from untoward somatic influences. In the intraorganismal competition between cell lineages, evolution will give priority for protection to the germ line, which carriers the heritable genes. In embryogenesis, germ cells migrate along the midline as this is an area where developmental influences are lower; exposure to somatic factors may cause inception of teratomas. In order not to hinder the germ line, the female genital tract has a reduced level of cell determination, which results in the multifariousness of gynaecological proliferations, including mullerianosis. The external location of testes reduces somatic constraints on spermatogenesis.