How evolution builds genes from scratch

[Buzz Bloom]

Summary

The News Feature article from Nature cited below is dated 16 October 2019.

How evolution builds genes from scratch

Scientists long assumed that new genes appear when evolution tinkers with old ones. It turns out that natural selection is much more creative.

www.nature.com

 

[Laroxe]

I read this a couple of days ago and have to admit I don't really know what to make of it yet. In some ways its a bit misleading in that this isn't about building new genes from scratch, its about new genes arising in the non coding parts of the genome. As a considerable part of this is genetic material involved in the control of gene expression changes in these areas probably reflect exactly the same events that cause mutation in the coding genes. I think I'll wait this one out and see how it develops.