[Campbell Biology P.503] The section 'Duplication, rearrangement, and mutation of DNA contri... | Practice Question

The section 'Duplication, rearrangement, and mutation of DNA contribute to genome evolution' primarily emphasizes which fundamental concept?

  • A: That genome size has decreased over evolutionary time due to gene loss.
  • B: That changes in DNA sequence and structure, including whole chromosome set duplications and rearrangements, provide the raw material for evolutionary novelty and diversification.
  • C: That all mutations are inherently harmful and prevent evolution.
  • D: That gene duplication is the only mechanism for genome evolution.

Explanation

The introductory paragraph and subsequent sub-sections detail how various DNA changes, from single mutations to large-scale chromosomal alterations like polyploidy and rearrangements, provide the essential variability for genomes to evolve, leading to new functions and species diversification.