What are some examples of genetic mutation or evolutionary...?

Question

...processes which increases the information in the genome?

empirical please

Answer 1

One of the major driving forces in evolution is gene duplication. This occurs by many means, but in the end, you're left with two copies a gene on one chromosome. Sometimes this isn't advantageous, since there are some proteins that are very carefully regulated. For example, if an organism had two copies of an inhibitory growth factor, it might not develop properly.

Once a copy of a gene is generated, it is easier for mutation in that gene to occur without negative consequences. Take the retina, for example. There are three different kinds of cone cells, each possessing receptors capable of seeing either red, blue, or green. The photoreceptors are likely descended from those in rod cells, which only register black and white. Once upon a time, the black-and-white photoreceptor, rhodopsin, was likely duplicated. One copy remained black-and-white, while the other copy mutated over time to percieve color. Prior to the duplication, the mutation would have resulted in a loss of black-and-white vision (b/w being more sensitive than color, this would have been a disadvantage). Later on, the color receptor may have duplicated again, and mutated to perceive different colors. Previously, a blue photoreceptor mutating to a green one would have resulted in the loss of the ability to perceive blue. After a duplication, however, there would be two copies, and one could mutate to green without the loss of blue.

Duplications don't necessarily have a noticeable effect. Much of the 'junk' DNA in the genome probably came about through this method. If there were two copies of a gene, there wouldn't be any selective pressure to maintain one of the copies. Over time mutations in one of the copies would go 'uncorrected' by natural selection until it was unrecognizable. Also, there is no guarantee that a duplication event would duplicate an entire gene. If half of a gene were duplicated, it is possible that the new partial copy wouldn't have any functionality.

Answer 2

When I was in grammar school, t was taught that blonde blue eyed, fair skinned people came from northern climates such as Europe and especially Scandinavia. Dark skinned, dark eyed, dark haired people came from hot southern climates such as Africa, Australia and India. All supposedly from environmental evolutopn. Then I discovered that Anuit Indians from Canada (as far north as Scandinavia) Chinese. Mongols, Koreans, laplanders all came from fat northern climates but had dark hair, dark eyes, darks skin. So much for the theory of environmental evolution to adapt to survival needs of these regions. I do believe in evolution to some extent though. For instance Americans are about 2 inches shorter than a century ago. Women have somewhat smaller babies. The size issue seems to be related to Americans no longer needing size and strength to farm and do heavy labor.
I think we could be headed for trouble with gene splicing though. We may end up curing a disease or birth defect only to create something worse. The effects of drugs or gene splicing cannot be determined for numerous generations. Labs speed this up testing on rats, hamsters, ferrets, monkeys, dogs cats etc. But these animals are different. The full effects on humans might take a few centuries and perhaps 20 generations to be realized.
For the most rapidly mutating thing on earth, that is said to be the flu. Every year they create new flu vaccines for the newly expected type virus. An impossible task as they have less than 6 months to plan strategety, decide type and prepare the vaccine. And still it is merely a guess usually based on what happened in the last year or two.

Answer 3

Do you mean like in human cancerous cellular degeneration, cystic fibrosis, that type thing?