Abstract
This chapter examines the molecular genetics of evolutionary novelties. In particular, it investigates which molecular mechanisms might be involved in the origination of novel gene regulatory networks (and, thus, character identity networks) and what these mechanisms imply for the origin of novel characters. The chapter begins with a discussion of the complex problem of the evolution of transcriptional regulation by focusing on the evolution of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and the evolution of transcription factor proteins. It then asks whether novel pigment spots, such as the Drosophila wing spots, are novelties. It also explores an evolutionary novelty known as sex comb and the role of transposable elements in the origin of novel CREs. Finally, it considers the role of gene duplications, the evolution of micro-RNAs (miRNAs), and the possibility of a mechanistic difference between adaptation and innovation.
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