Final answer:
A paralog is a gene that may develop a new function following gene duplication, allowing one copy to evolve while the original maintains its function.
Step-by-step explanation:
A paralog is defined as a gene that may have taken on a new function through gene duplication. It arises when a duplication event occurs in the genome, leading to multiple copies of a gene.
Many genetic diseases are a result of abnormal splicing instead of mutations in a gene's coding sequence. However, through processes such as alternative splicing and gene duplication, a protein can take on new functions while the original protein remains intact. This is a fundamental mechanism of evolution, as it provides raw material for evolution to act on without compromising the original function of the protein encoded by the duplicated gene.
After duplication, one copy can freely accumulate mutations that may lead to a new function (neofunctionalization), or it could divide the workload with the original gene (subfunctionalization).