In: Biology
Gene duplication, as part of plant nuclear genome evolution, is considered an important contributor to total gene number and to overall genome size. In recent plant nuclear genome evolution, and post gene duplication, is sub-functionalisation or specialisation believed to be the mostly likely contributor to increased gene number in plant species with larger sized genomes? Explain your answer.
Answer- Yes, the gene duplication and then sub-functionalization and specialisation of newly formed genes (as a result of duplication) leads to increase in Genome size of these plants.
Explanation-
The initial result of gene duplication is formation of two identical genes
The duplicated genes usually have following fates-
The globin gene family provides a particularly good example of how DNA duplication generated new proteins.