The following is an edited excerpt

The less a gene has mutated over the millions or billions of years of its lifespan, the more likely it is to play a key role for its host. But it turns out that the converse is not necessarily true. Young and rapidly evolving genes can be indispensable too.

In a study published online June 6 in Science, Researchers detail one gene’s rapid switch to a new and essential function in the fruit fly,

Read the full story here: How Young Genes Gain a Toehold On Becoming Indispensable