gene duplication new function original copy

An extra copy of a gene can evolve a new job

Sometimes DNA copying creates a second copy of a gene. One copy can keep doing the old job while the other is free to change. Over time, the spare copy may develop a new function without destroying the original one.

Hobbes tied obedience to its consequences

The political thinker Thomas Hobbes argued that people should obey a government made by humans because, in almost all cases, disobeying brings worse consequences. He based obedience on prudence, not on divine appointment or a claim that obedience is morally required.

Restricting pesticides helped reduce suicides in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka experienced a major decline in suicide rates after restricting access to highly hazardous pesticides beginning in the 1990s. The change illustrates an important public-health principle: making a particularly lethal means less accessible can save lives, even without eliminating the underlying causes of suicidal distress.

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gene duplication new function original copy

An extra copy of a gene can evolve a new job

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