Final answer:
The statement that gene duplications provide an explanation for the origin of gene families is true. Gene duplications are indeed true for explaining the origin of gene families. They allow one gene copy to mutate and acquire new functions, while the other copy continues its original function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gene duplication is an evolutionary mechanism where a segment of DNA is duplicated, resulting in multiple gene copies. This process allows for genetic diversity within a genome as one copy of the duplicated gene can accumulate mutations without affecting the other copy.
Over time, these mutations can lead to new gene functions while the original gene continues to perform its initial function. This is instrumental in forming gene families, which are groups of related genes that have evolved from a common ancestral gene. Therefore, gene duplication is a key event that can lead to the development of new gene functions and contribute to the complexity of organisms.