Genome plasticity is provided by various genetic and molecular mechanisms that occasionally either duplicate preexisting genes or lead to the origination of new sequences. These events have long been considered to contribute to the evolution of new functions and adaptive evolutionary innovations. Altogether, these new and duplicated genes represent a substantial fraction of every genome sequenced. They are of multiple origins ranging from whole genome duplications, which is documented in many eukaryotes, to various other modes of duplication, mostly single full or partial gene duplications, by DNA-based or retroposition events.

We are interested in original research articles as well as review articles of the authors' surveys that focus on the mechanisms at the origin of evolutionary novelties, from eukaryotes to prokaryotes, including organellar genomes. A strong consideration will be given to the articles emphasizing on the impact these duplications have on the genome organization, including the evolutionary novelties and biological complexity they offered, the gene repertoires preferentially retained, patterns of gene family expansion, and the mode of evolution they followed for their maintenance. An emphasis will be given to how these duplicated or new arisen genes contribute to the neofunctionalization or subfunctionalization events, and furthermore, what they are operating on ranging from the cellular up to the behavioral levels. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Mechanisms leading to genome duplications
• Mechanisms involved in genes duplications
• Creation of new genes by exon shuffling, gene fusion, or fission
• Domestication of transposable elements
• Exaption of coding or noncoding sequences
• Lateral gene transfer

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