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Related Concept Videos

Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
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Forward genetic screens
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Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
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Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
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Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.Life is not fair. A deer grazing contentedly in a field can have her meal cut tragically short by a bolt of lightning. If the doomed doe is one of only three in the population, 1/3 of the population’s gene pool is lost. Random events like this can...

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Quantitative Comparison of cis-Regulatory Element (CRE) Activities in Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster
08:19

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Published on: December 19, 2011

Adaptive genic evolution in the Drosophila genomes.

Joshua A Shapiro1, Wei Huang, Chenhui Zhang

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|February 8, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Nearly 30% of amino acid substitutions between Drosophila species were adaptive, particularly in regions of normal recombination. This finding sheds light on the genomic basis of adaptive evolution and selective pressures.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Evolution
  • Genomics
  • Population Genetics

Background:

  • Understanding adaptive evolution at the genomic level is crucial for molecular evolution.
  • Polymorphic data from large, stable populations of closely related species are ideal for studying adaptive evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the extent of adaptive evolution at the genomic level using polymorphic data from Drosophila species.
  • To investigate the relationship between polymorphism, divergence, and recombination rates.

Main Methods:

  • Sequencing of 419 genes from 24 lines of Drosophila melanogaster and related species.
  • Analysis of polymorphic and divergence data, considering recombination rates.
  • Comparison of observed amino acid substitution rates with neutral expectations.

Main Results:

  • Approximately 10% of loci in normal recombination regions showed reduced silent site polymorphism, suggesting selective sweeps.
  • Polymorphism levels negatively correlated with nonsynonymous divergence rates.
  • Observed amino acid to silent substitution ratio was 28.9% higher than neutral expectation, indicating significant adaptive evolution.
  • Adaptive evolution signatures were primarily detected in regions of normal recombination.

Conclusions:

  • An estimated 30% of amino acid substitutions between Drosophila melanogaster and relatives were adaptive.
  • Adaptive evolution is detectable primarily in regions of normal recombination.
  • Reduced polymorphism in low-recombination regions may not solely result from positive selection.