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Related Concept Videos

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
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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...
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

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.
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

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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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Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
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Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Hand Dissection of Caenorhabditis elegans Intestines
05:41

Hand Dissection of Caenorhabditis elegans Intestines

Published on: September 13, 2022

Genome evolution in Caenorhabditis.

James H Thomas1

  • 1Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. jht@u.washington.edu

Briefings in Functional Genomics & Proteomics
|June 25, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The Caenorhabditis elegans genome has more genes than insects and matches mammals. Nematode genomes show complex evolution with conserved and unique genes, often on high-recombination autosomal arms.

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Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Hand Dissection of Caenorhabditis elegans Intestines
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Published on: September 13, 2022

Isolation and Characterization of the Natural Microbiota of the Model Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Nematology

Background:

  • The Caenorhabditis elegans genome annotation is nearly complete, revealing a gene count comparable to mammals.
  • Recent draft genome sequences for other nematodes facilitate comparative analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze genome evolution within nematodes and across phyla.
  • To identify patterns of gene conservation and nematode-specific genes.
  • To investigate the location and potential function of nematode-specific genes.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics of multiple nematode species and other metazoans.
  • Analysis of gene content, sequence relatedness, and genomic location.
  • RNA interference (RNAi) to assess gene function.

Main Results:

  • C. elegans possesses more functional genes than most insects and a similar number to mammals.
  • Nematode genomes exhibit a mix of core metazoan genes and numerous nematode-specific genes.
  • Nematode-specific genes are concentrated on autosomal arms with high recombination rates.
  • Knockdown of many nematode-specific genes via RNAi did not yield gross phenotypes.

Conclusions:

  • Nematode genome evolution is complex, featuring conserved and lineage-specific genes.
  • High recombination rates on autosomal arms may facilitate the evolution of new genes.
  • Many nematode-specific genes likely play roles in specialized biology, such as chemosensation or detoxification, which were not detected by standard RNAi screens.