Twisting development, the birth of a potential new gene.

Evolution has long been considered to be a conservative process in which new genes arise from pre-existing genes through gene duplication, domain shuffling, horizontal transfer, overprinting, retrotransposition, etc. However, this view is changing as new genes originating from non-genic sequences are discovered in different organisms. Still, rather limited functional information is available. Here, we have identified (), a possible -originated protein-coding gene that modifies microtubule arrangement and causes helicoidal growth in when its expression is increased. Interestingly, even though is a likely recent gene, the lack of function affects . development. seems to have originated from a non-genic sequence. If so, it would be one of the few examples to date of how during evolution genes are integrated into developmental cellular and organismal processes.