Genome duplication, divergent resolution and speciation

Trends Genet. 2001 Jun;17(6):299-301. doi: 10.1016/s0168-9525(01)02318-6.

Abstract

What are the evolutionary consequences of gene duplication? One answer is speciation, according to a model initially called Reciprocal Silencing and recently expanded and renamed Divergent Resolution. This model shows how the loss of different copies of a duplicated gene in allopatric populations (divergent resolution) can promote speciation by genetically isolating these populations should they become reunited. Genome duplication events produce thousands of duplicated genes. Therefore, lineages with a history of genome duplication might have been especially prone to speciation via divergent resolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Gene Duplication*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genes, Duplicate*
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Models, Genetic*
  • Phylogeny