New species can only arise if also new genes are formed. Duplication, which replicates already existing genes, is one of the most important mechanisms for increasing the number of genes. Evolutionary biologist Professor Wolfgang Stephan and his team were able to show the importance of natural selection in such processes. Plant biologist Professor Dario Leister, on the other hand, has demonstrated the existence of a hitherto unknown path to the generation of new genes: In this process, foreign genetic material that had been incorporated into cells millions of years ago is built into new gene arrangements.

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