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Gene conversion may aid adaptive peak shifts.

T F Hansen1, A J Carter, C H Chiu

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 165 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA.

Journal of Theoretical Biology
|November 30, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Gene conversion may drive adaptive evolution by allowing beneficial mutations to accumulate on duplicated genes and be transferred to the functional gene. This "hide-and-release" mechanism facilitates evolutionary leaps, as seen in primate globin gene evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Molecular evolution
  • Population genetics

Background:

  • Gene conversion is traditionally viewed as a homogenizing force that limits evolutionary novelty.
  • Adaptive evolution often involves overcoming selective constraints to reach new functional states.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a novel role for gene conversion in facilitating adaptive evolution of proteins.
  • To explore how gene conversion can aid in shifting populations between adaptive peaks.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a mathematical model to simulate the proposed evolutionary process.
  • Analysis of the conditions (rates of gene conversion, duplication, mutation) under which the model operates.
  • Examination of the evolution of primate gamma-globin genes as a case study.

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Main Results:

  • Gene conversion can promote adaptive evolution by enabling the transfer of accumulated mutations from duplicated gene copies.
  • The proposed mechanism is biologically feasible when beneficial mutation rates are sufficiently high relative to null mutation and gene conversion rates.
  • The model's evolutionary steps are consistent with the observed evolution of primate gamma-globin genes.

Conclusions:

  • Gene conversion, via a "hide-and-release" mechanism, can be a potent force in adaptive evolution.
  • This process offers a potential explanation for rapid evolutionary transitions and adaptive peak shifts.
  • The findings suggest a broader principle of "hide-and-release" for genetic variation contributing to evolvability.