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A set of new genes "born by accident" has led to evolutionary innovation, according to a study by researchers at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute  in Barcelona.

Evolution has given rise to novel genes while research  found that due to the "accidental appearance" of some combinations of elements in the genome, new genes can be generated

Every genome has various sets of genes, which seem to be distinctive to that species only. Thousands of genes, in particular, humans or chimpanzees were identified, according to scienceworldreport.

Scientists searched for the macaque genome, discovering that "this species had much fewer element motifs in the corresponding genomic sequences". The motifs are recognised by proteins activating gene expression, which is important for the creation of a new gene. The formation of such genes from previous non-active parts of the genome has, till recently, been thought improbable.

Hence, the mutations within genetic material explains the process. The genes may be a substrate for new molecular functions. Many candidate human proteins that showed no similarity to other proteins were also found.

The findings of this study were published in PLOS Genetics.