Two eukaryotic proteins have one domain in common but are otherwise very different. Which of the following processes is most likely to have contributed to this similarity?
A) gene duplication
B) RNA splicing
C) exon shuffling
D) histone modification
E) random point mutations

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Exon shuffling is a process by which the exons of different genes can be combined to create novel genes. It is a mechanism of evolution that can generate new proteins or modify existing ones. Therefore, it is the most likely process that could have contributed to the similarity between two eukaryotic proteins that have one domain in common but are otherwise very different. Gene duplication may lead to the presence of multiple copies of a domain within a single protein, but it is less likely to generate similarity between two different proteins. RNA splicing and histone modification are mechanisms that regulate gene expression but do not directly contribute to protein similarity. Random point mutations may lead to changes in protein sequences, but it is unlikely to generate similarity between two different proteins.

Two Eukaryotic Proteins Have One Domain in Common but Are