Real-Time Evolution of New Genes by Innovation, Amplification, and Divergence

Duplicate Gene, New Tricks The fact that functionally new genes appear is clear, but the evolutionary process that allows for a new gain of function is not well understood. Näsvall et al. (p. 384 ) present the innovation-amplification-divergence model which suggests that after gene duplication, ancestral function is maintained but that the duplicate copies can gain new function that is selected for through the accumulation of mutations or changes in expression. Experimental selection on Salmonella enterica allowed an ancestral gene to evolve new enzymatic function in fewer than 3000 generations.