Which of the following statements explains why paralogous genes can diverge from each other within the same gene pool, whereas orthologous genes diverge only after gene pools are isolated from each other?
A) having multiple copies of genes is essential for the occurrence of sympatric speciation in the wild
B) paralogous genes can occur only in diploid species, thus they are absent from most prokaryotes
C) polyploidy is a necessary precondition for the occurrence of sympatric speciation in the wild
D) having an extra copy of a gene permits modifications to the copy without loss of the original gene product

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Paralogous genes result from gene duplication within the same organism, allowing one copy to mutate and potentially take on a new function while the other copy continues to perform its original function. Orthologous genes, on the other hand, are homologous genes in different species that originated from a common ancestor, diverging only when the species themselves diverge.

Which of the Following Statements Explains Why Paralogous Genes Can