Genome and mutationsGene duplication and evolution
DNA replication is carefully controlled to preserve the genetic information. However, changes in the genome do sometimes occur. These changes are known as mutations.
Gene duplication is very important for the evolution of species because it can facilitate the creation of new genes.
Normally, changes to genes result in loss of function and so are weeded out by natural selection.
However, when genes are accidentally duplicated, a beneficial mutation can be created while the original gene continues to function. This allows the duplicated gene to accumulate further mutations without this selection pressure. Numerous mutations over time can give rise to related genes but with a new specialised function.