Figure 6. Model of generation and function of Amplification-Linked Extrachromosomal Mutations (ALEMs).
After random generation of the DM molecules, the amplified DNA region is prone to acquisition of an ALEM due to a higher number of DNA copies. The cell with the highest number of DMs harboring the ALEM will have a proliferative advantage. In response to environmental stress the cells may accordingly change the amount of DMs (see text for details).