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Related Concept Videos

Cis-regulatory Sequences02:02

Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...
Cis-regulatory Sequences02:02

Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.The structures that arise from convergent evolution are called analogous structures. They are similar in function even if they are dissimilar in structure. Further, structures can be analogous while also...
Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...
Dosage Compensation02:50

Dosage Compensation

In animals, gender is determined by the number and type of sex chromosome. For example, human females have two X chromosomes, and males have one X and one Y chromosome, whereas C.elegans with one X chromosome is a male, and the one with two X chromosomes is a hermaphrodite.
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Genetics of Speciation

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Experimental Manipulation of Body Size to Estimate Morphological Scaling Relationships in Drosophila
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Published on: October 1, 2011

Regulatory divergence modifies limb length between mammals.

Chris J Cretekos1, Ying Wang, Eric D Green

  • 1Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Genes & Development
|January 17, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Genetic changes in gene regulation, not just proteins, drive species evolution. Bat DNA regulatory elements in mice caused longer limbs, revealing how gene regulation variation fuels evolutionary changes.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Natural selection drives evolutionary changes in morphology and physiology.
  • Variation in gene regulatory sequences, particularly enhancers, is a key driver of evolutionary novelty.
  • Understanding the role of cis-regulatory elements in morphological evolution is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of transcriptional enhancers in morphological evolution.
  • To determine if differences in limb-specific enhancers contribute to species-specific morphological traits.
  • To explore the evolutionary potential of cis-regulatory sequences.

Main Methods:

  • Swapped the limb-specific enhancer of the mouse Prx1 gene with its bat ortholog.
  • Analyzed Prx1 expression levels and forelimb development in transgenic mice.
  • Investigated the effect of deleting the endogenous mouse Prx1 limb enhancer.

Main Results:

  • The bat enhancer significantly increased Prx1 expression and led to longer mouse forelimbs due to altered endochondral ossification.
  • Deletion of the mouse Prx1 limb enhancer resulted in normal forelimb development, indicating regulatory redundancy.
  • This suggests pre-existing regulatory variants can be a source of evolutionary novelty.

Conclusions:

  • Mutations in noncoding regulatory sequences are a significant source of variation for morphological evolution between species.
  • Cis-regulatory redundancy may play a critical role in facilitating the accumulation of mutations in regulatory elements.
  • Enhancer evolution provides a mechanism for rapid adaptation and diversification.