Evolution of vertebrate immunoglobulin variable gene segments
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Updated: Oct 16, 2026

Identification of Mouse and Human Antibody Repertoires by Next-Generation Sequencing
Published on: March 15, 2019
1Center for Human Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118, USA. Ota@soken.ac.jp
Abstract:
Evolution of Ig V gene segments are generally characterized by (a) evolution by "the birth and death process" and (b) diversifying selection. However, the detailed evolutionary pattern of V gene segments varies among species due to the fact that the humoral immune system itself has changed during vertebrate evolution. The change in somatic diversification system coupled with the change in lymphocyte development has imposed a significant impact on the evolution of Ig genes. In order to understand the evolution of immunological genes it is important to view it in the context of the evolution of the entire immune system itself.
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