Their findings based on the comparison of the length between phylogenetically old and new genes: new created genes are shorter and structurally simpler than older ones. They can also be created from previously unread regions of the genome. the new genes often use existing regulatory elements from other genes before they create their own.

Previously, scientists have assumed that in the course of evolution copies were made from existing genes adapting to the environmental requirements which are then integrated into the genome. With their new work Rafik Neme and Diethard Tautz from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology have refuted this idea. They analyzed approximately 20,000 mouse genes and traced their origins. They found out that genes of recent origin are often shorter than longer existing genes. Younger genes have a lack of exons and a smaller number of protein domains. A young gene needs time to acquire additional exons and introns, as Rafik Neme by MPI in Plön said.

The researchers also discovered that some genes have been overwritten in the course of evolution resulting in a shift of the reading frame. Generally new genes are also evenly distributed over the genome, one of the few exceptions is a gene cluster on chromosome 14, which among other things controlls the activities of neurons.

Source: Max Planck Institute
For more information: www.mpg.de/7056536/genes-templates?filter_order=L

Original publication: Rafik Neme, R. and Tautz, D. (2013): Phylogenetic patterns of emergence of new genes support a model of frequent de novo evolution. BMC Genomics 14: 117 (doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-117)