A new study by geneticists has revealed something surprising about species evolution: a hidden genome duplication that helps explain how complex traits can arise. The study, published in Nature Communications, found that many species have undergone multiple whole-genome duplications during their evolutionary history. The research provides a new understanding of how complex genetic traits can arise from simple genetic changes.

Geneticists have long known that species evolve through the process of duplication and modification of their genomes. In this new study, researchers studied the genomes of 805 species across the tree of life, from single-celled organisms to plants and animals. They discovered that many species have undergone multiple whole-genome duplications, resulting in the presence of multiple copies of the same gene in the genome. This duplication of genes can lead to the emergence of new and complex traits, such as increased brain size or the development of wings. The study provides new insight into the evolutionary process and how it can lead to the development of complex traits.

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source: Phys.org