A recent study challenges the idea that gene switches, or enhancers, have their own isolated location on DNA. Instead, the study suggests that regulatory sequences in the genome may be more complex than previously thought. Enhancers control gene expression, affecting when and where genes are active. The findings have implications for how traits change during evolution, as enhancers can mutate more easily than genes directly. This study focused on enhancers controlling color patterns in fruit flies, revealing that enhancers can share extensive DNA regions. Further research is needed to understand the broader effects of mutations in enhancers on evolutionary mechanisms.
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New study challenges the traditional view of gene switches
