Long does cite at least one type of mutation that does not presuppose existing genetic information, the de novo origination of new genes. For example, one paper he discusses sought to explain the origin of a promoter region for a gene (the part of the gene that helps initiate the transcription of the gene’s instructions) and found that “this unusual regulatory region did not really ‘evolve.’ ” Instead, it somehow snapped into being: “It was aboriginal, created de novo by the fortuitous juxtaposition of suitable sequences.”

