When a gene is duplicated, which of the following may occur?
A) Production of the gene's product may increase.
B) The two copies may become expressed in different tissues.
C) One copy of the gene may accumulate deleterious substitutions and become functionless.
D) The two copies may diverge and acquire different functions.
E) All of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of the choices may occur when a gene is duplicated. The production of the gene's product may increase if both copies are expressed and functional. The two copies may become expressed in different tissues if one copy undergoes changes that result in tissue-specific expression. One copy of the gene may accumulate deleterious substitutions and become functionless through the process of genetic drift or negative selection. The two copies may diverge and acquire different functions through the process of subfunctionalization or neofunctionalization.

When a Gene Is Duplicated, Which of the Following May