Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

G2-seq: A High Throughput Sequencing-based Technique for Identifying Late Replicating Regions of the Genome
Published on: March 22, 2018
The evolutionary significance of ancient genome duplications
Yves Van de Peer1, Steven Maere, Axel Meyer
1Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB (Flanders Institute of Biotechnology), Ghent, Belgium. Yves.Vandepeer@psb.vib-ugent.be
Abstract:
Many organisms are currently polyploid, or have a polyploid ancestry and now have secondarily 'diploidized' genomes. This finding is surprising because retained whole-genome duplications (WGDs) are exceedingly rare, suggesting that polyploidy is usually an evolutionary dead end. We argue that ancient genome doublings could probably have survived only under very specific conditions, but that, whenever established, they might have had a pronounced impact on species diversification, and led to an increase in biological complexity and the origin of evolutionary novelties.
Related Concept Videos
Gene Duplication and Divergence
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
Gene Families
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
Evolution of Microbial Genome
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

