Abstract
The gene duplication process has exhibited far greater promiscuity in the creation of paralogs with novel exon-intron structures than anticipated even by Ohno. In this paper I explore the history of the field, from the neo-Darwinian synthesis through Ohno's formulation of the canonical model for the evolution of gene duplicates and culminating in the present genomic era. I delineate the major tenets of Ohno's model and discuss its failure to encapsulate the full complexity of the duplication process as revealed in the era of genomics. I discuss the diverse classes of paralogs originating from both DNA- and RNA-mediated duplication events and their evolutionary potential for assuming radically altered functions, as well as the degree to which they can function unconstrained from the pressure of gene conversion. Lastly, I explore theoretical population-genetic considerations of how the effective population size (N e) of a species may influence the probability of emergence of genes with radically altered functions.
Highlights
A recognition of the significance of novel traits for the origin of biological complexity and diversity is not new
In their article, Smithies et al [13] succinctly detailed the evolutionary potential of such radically altered gene duplicates— “We suggest that proteins with radically changed properties can be formed as a consequence of the single genetic event of a chromosomal rearrangement involving non-integral numbers of genes
The high frequencies of structurally heterogeneous gene duplicates in many lineages bear direct testament to the inherent promiscuity of the gene duplication process and contribute directly to its potential for rapidly generating novel genes implicated in the emergence of biological innovations
Summary
A recognition of the significance of novel traits for the origin of biological complexity and diversity is not new. In their article, Smithies et al [13] succinctly detailed the evolutionary potential of such radically altered gene duplicates— “We suggest that proteins with radically changed properties can be formed as a consequence of the single genetic event of a chromosomal rearrangement involving non-integral numbers of genes. Chromosomal rearrangements of this type appear to provide a mechanism for achieving more rapid. I discuss the various flavours of gene duplicates originating from both DNA- and RNA-mediated mutational events and explore their respective potential for the creation of evolutionary innovations and biological diversity. I explore theoretical population-genetic considerations of how the effective population size (Ne) of a species may influence the probability of emergence of genes with radically altered functions
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