De novo genes are genes that do not arise from gene duplication but from previously non-genic regions in the genome. These genes started to be detected about 10 years ago and have gained increased recognition as an important component of evolutionary innovation. A historical account on the discovery of de novo genes has been published in Quanta Magazine on August 18 2015 How new genes arise from scratch. The author, Emily Singer, was at the SMBE 2015 meeting in Vienna and attended the Symposium Origins and Evolution of Molecular Innovation, in which some of the latest developments in the field were presented. After interviewing some of the key players she has produced this report that summarizes the main turning points and the challenges ahead. Exciting to see this all this taking shape after not always easy beginnings!
Other links: Scientific American;Quanta Podcast.
