intragenisestä

Intragenesis is a biological concept referring to the origin of genes within an existing genome. It describes the process by which new genetic material arises from within the organism's own DNA, rather than from external sources like horizontal gene transfer or viral insertion. This can occur through various mechanisms, including gene duplication followed by divergence, exon shuffling, or the de novo creation of novel genetic sequences.

Gene duplication, a common form of intragenesis, leads to the presence of multiple copies of a gene. One copy can then accumulate mutations independently, potentially evolving into a new gene with a different function. Exon shuffling involves the recombination of existing exons, which are the coding regions of genes, to create new genes with novel combinations of functional domains. De novo gene formation, while less understood, suggests that entirely new genes can arise from previously non-coding DNA through mutations and selection.

The study of intragenesis is important for understanding genome evolution and the development of new biological functions. It highlights the dynamic nature of genomes and their capacity for internal innovation. By generating new genetic material, intragenesis contributes to the diversity of life and the adaptation of organisms to changing environments.