How Do We And Other Species Gain New Genomes?

[New2Hackin]

Hi,

On another forum, there is a user attempting to debunk evolution by stating that there's no method of gaining new genomes; that gene duplication does not affect gene count, only gene sequence. His opening statement was..

"the diference in bacteria and humans are estimated to be a 49.5k genome difference, mutations are the modifications, not the additions of those genomes, where did the extra come from? "

Considering the very topic of this forum is biology, I thought I'd come here to ask for input on this. I'll refer him to the thread once there's been some answers. For reference, here's the thread in particular he's posting on, his username is Fallenour (the guy copy/pasting large amounts of text from wikipedia lol): http://www.hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=775748

Thanks for your time. And if links to other forums aren't allowed, lemme know, didn't see it in the rules but yeah.

-N2H

[StevePush]

The following link should be helpful:

http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info ... io.0030169

Steve

[JackBean]

simply, the mutations are not only changes between bases, but also indels, which can be quite long, and mainly chromosome re-arrangements

[Darby]

It's also possible to pick up extra genes from unequal crossing-over; mutations can alter the "new" copies without the "old" function being lost, essentially adding new proteins/ traits.

[Julie5]

Indels - insertions and deletions? (just checking!)

Also, isn't there evidence that some eukaryote cells have incorporated DNA/genes/coding sequences from bacteria and so on (eg, in the gut)?

Plus, of course, that we are symbionts anyway, with mitochondria?