When a gene duplication occurs, _______ nucleotide substitutions are required for the evolution of a gene with a new function.

Question

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A gene duplication results in the presence of two copies of the same gene in a genome. One of these copies can accumulate mutations without affecting the function of the original gene. These accumulated mutations may eventually lead to the evolution of a new function for the duplicated gene. The nucleotide substitutions that are responsible for the evolution of a new function are usually nonsynonymous, meaning they result in an amino acid change in the protein sequence. Therefore, choice A is the best answer.

When a Gene Duplication Occurs, _______ Nucleotide Substitutions Are Required