[Campbell Biology P.505] Besides whole gene duplication and divergence, what other mechanism... | Practice Question

Besides whole gene duplication and divergence, what other mechanism is explicitly mentioned in the text as significantly contributing to genome evolution and the evolution of new proteins?

  • A: Horizontal gene transfer from bacteria.
  • B: Polyploidy, leading to entire extra sets of chromosomes.
  • C: Rearrangement of existing DNA sequences within genes, including the duplication or shuffling of exons.
  • D: Point mutations in non-coding regions, changing gene expression.

Explanation

The section 'Rearrangements of Parts of Genes: Exon Duplication and Exon Shuffling' explicitly states: 'Besides the duplication and divergence of whole genes, rearrangement of existing DNA sequences within genes has also contributed to genome evolution. The presence of introns may have promoted the evolution of new proteins by facilitating the duplication or shuffling of exons.'