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Related Concept Videos

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...
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
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Multi-species Conserved Sequences02:51

Multi-species Conserved Sequences

Next-generation sequencing technologies have created large genomic databases of a variety of animals and plants. Ever since the human genome project was completed, scientists studied the genome of primates, mammals, and other phylogenetically distant living beings. Such large-scale  studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary relationship between organisms.
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved DNA...
Genetics of Speciation02:16

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.The genetics of speciation involves the different traits or isolating mechanisms preventing gene exchange, leading to reproductive isolation. Reproductive isolation can be due to reproductive barriers that have effects either before or after the formation of a zygote. Pre-zygotic mechanisms prevent fertilization from occurring, and post-zygotic mechanisms...
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.

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Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face
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Widespread ultraconservation divergence in primates.

Ivan Ovcharenko1

  • 1Computational Biology Branch, National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. ovcharei@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Molecular Biology and Evolution
|May 22, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ultraconserved elements (UCEs) decreased during primate evolution. Sequence changes in UCEs may alter gene regulation, particularly in the central nervous system, and show human population variation.

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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Ultraconserved elements (UCEs) are highly conserved DNA sequences found in mammals.
  • Understanding UCE evolution provides insights into genome stability and regulatory mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distribution and evolution of UCEs across primate species.
  • To analyze sequence variation and selective pressures on UCEs.
  • To explore the functional implications of UCE sequence changes.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analysis of human, chimpanzee, and rhesus macaque genomes.
  • Sequence polymorphism analysis to detect mutation fixation.
  • Gene ontology annotation to infer functional roles.

Main Results:

  • The number of UCEs has decreased throughout primate evolution.
  • Significant divergence and single nucleotide polymorphism accumulation in human UCEs.
  • Mutation fixation in UCEs can lead to relaxed selective constraints.
  • UCE sequence variation is linked to altered expression of developmental genes, especially in the central nervous system.
  • Population-specific UCE variations, including nonsynonymous changes, were identified in humans.

Conclusions:

  • UCEs are dynamic elements undergoing evolutionary reduction and variation.
  • UCE sequence changes may play a role in regulating gene expression and development.
  • UCE variability within human populations highlights ongoing evolutionary processes.