Evolution of genetic diversity toward biological diversity

Genetic basis of biological diversity is evolving at various levels ranging from nucleotide substitutions in coding regions to noncoding RNAs to new gene evolution.  The direct target of selection due to changed environment and ecological condition is phenotypic and functional effects in these genetic changes.  Recent investigations on the genomes of fruit flies, mammals, and Oryza revealed unexpectedly great diversity in the components of genetic systems that regulate various phenotypic and functional traits among closely related species.  Such systems were detected to evolve rapidly, leading to previously unknown degree of biological diversity in the highly related species of these organisms.