Question

Explain how the exon/intron structure of genes contributes to the generation of new gene functions during evolution.

Answer 1

The exon/intron structure in genes facilitates the evolution of new functions through exon shuffling, alternative splicing, and gene duplication, significantly contributing to genetic diversity and adaptability.

Step-by-step explanation:

The exon/intron structure of genes is pivotal in the evolution of new gene functions. Introns, which are non-coding sequences, serve as a buffer against deleterious mutations, and through unequal recombination during meiosis, they can lead to gene duplication and exon shuffling. This occurrence can result in new proteins with additional structural domains and functions, contributing to genetic diversity and evolutionary progress.

Exon shuffling is a mechanism by which exons can be mixed and matched between genes, potentially creating proteins that carry out new functions. Additionally, introns and their associated sequences play a crucial role in alternative splicing, which allows for the production of multiple protein variants from a single gene, further increasing the potential for diversity and adaptability.

Gene duplication, which can occur due to non-homologous recombination facilitated by introns, allows one gene copy to accumulate mutations while the other maintains its original function. This duplicated gene can then evolve over time, adding to the pool of selectable DNA sequences and leading to an increase in species diversity and evolutionary innovation.

Answer 2

The exons may be defined as the coding region of the RNA that codes for the particular amino acid. The introns are the non coding region of RNA and must be removed in the final RNA product.

Exon shuffling result in the formation of new gene. The alteration of the exon and intron structure leads to the new gene function in evolution. The genes that are favored and conserved in the evolution perform new gene function. The genes that are selected against are deleted during the evolution.