Question

Explain the role of tandem duplication mutation in evolution

Answer 1

Tandem duplication, back to back duplication of exon within a gene, is an important mutational event of molecular evolution as it mostly increase the fitness of individuals. Usually the dupliced gene has no selective pressure so the second copy of gene appears to be useful if any deleterious mutation effects the original copy. Thus individuals carrying tandem duplication can be a better survivor comparing to those having single gene.If mutation comes with no beneficial or detrimental effect then function of original gene could be distributed among both giving a neutral effect.