has any documented mutation ever added genetic material?

Question

I heard in a video in my biology class that no documented mutation (other than occasional copied information) has ever added genetic material, which is needed in order for organisms to become more complex as time progresses. from one cell with a little genetic material into the organisms we have to day with a lot of genetic material.
is this true?

Answer 1

Genes can be transferred from one organism to another, through horizontal gene transfer. Also, gene duplications can add genetic material to an organism. It means a duplicate gene can result and it can change while the orginal copy remains unchanged (or vice versa), and one of these genes can perform a new function or code for a new, but similar protein. So, two processes, gene duplication and horizontal gene transfer, can add to the genetic material, allowing an organism to become more complex.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_gene_transfer



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_duplication

Answer 2

As someone said, viruses add material sometimes.



Also, look up some interesting newly (ish) found phenomenon theorized to happen (at least in the group of fishes I'm studying) called "genome duplication."



Also look up plant polyploidy.



This, of course, is talking about between generations.



There really isn't much material added within one generation. HOWEVER there are something called "jumping genes" which can duplicate if they "jump" to a position ahead of new DNA synthesis and thus make more copies of itself within one generation. However, this is super rare and probably unnoticeable.



Jumping genes often accidentally carry real genes with them which is why a lot of genes have many copies, it is theorized.



This subject though--if you are high school student--probably would not make sense to students so some books probably oversimplify.

Answer 3

How narrow is the definiton of 'mutation' in that statement?

I know that instances of genetic material being added by viruses have been documented,

as have instances of interspecies 'swaps' of material between bacteria.