The Origins and Functions of De Novo Genes: Against All Odds?

• Published in: Journal of molecular evolution Vol. 90; no. 3-4; pp. 244 - 257
• Main Author: Weisman, Caroline M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.08.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Genetics and Genomics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Case studies; Cell Biology; Evolution; Evolutionary Biology; Genes; Genomics; Life Sciences; Microbiology; Origins; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Sciences; Proteins; Review; Taxonomically-restricted genes; Gene birth; Genetic novelty; Lineage-specific genes; Evolutionary novelty; De novo genes

“De novo” genes evolve from previously non-genic DNA. This strikes many of us as remarkable, because it seems extraordinarily unlikely that random sequence would produce a functional gene. How is this possible? In this two-part review, I first summarize what is known about the origins and molecular...