I have been following the gene duplication discussion with interest and
I have very little to add. Nonetheless, I would like to throw in my 1
cent worth. In studies of random (read anonymous) cloned nuclear DNA
regions from a variety of animals (clams to turtles) I have come to the
conclusion that there is no such thing as "single copy nuclear DNA". In
surveys of single copy regions they seem to very often have a copy
elsewhere in the genome that by restriction endonuclease analysis is close
but not really close in profile. So... if duplication happens often (read
is a normal active, common occurrence in genomes) then the "duplicate =>
drift => new function" idea can take on a new wrinkle.
For what it is worth!
Stephen Karl
Department of Biology
University of South Florida
4202 East Fowler Ave, LIF 169
Tampa, Florida 33620-5150
Voice (813) 974-1592
Fax (813) 974-3263
EMail Karl at .chuma.cas.usf.edu
