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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.
In contrast, regions which code...
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.
In contrast, regions which code...
What is Gene Expression?01:36

What is Gene Expression?

A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is comprised  of nucleotides and proteins are comprised of amino acids, a mediator is required to convert the information encoded in DNA into proteins. This mediator is the messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA copies the blueprint from DNA by a process called transcription. In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus by complementary base-pairing with the DNA template. The mRNA is then processed and...
What is Gene Expression?01:42

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Overview
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
What is Gene Expression?01:42

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Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
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Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

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Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...

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A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq
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A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

Published on: May 28, 2021

Evolutionary rate and gene expression across different brain regions.

Tamir Tuller1, Martin Kupiec, Eytan Ruppin

  • 1School of Computer Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. tamirtul@post.tau.ac.il

Genome Biology
|September 25, 2008
PubMed
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Genes highly expressed in the human brain, particularly in newer cortical regions, evolve more slowly than those in older subcortical areas. This indicates stronger evolutionary constraints on cortical gene sequences.

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Published on: November 13, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Molecular evolution
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Protein evolutionary rate is a key molecular evolution metric.
  • Genes in the brain exhibit lower evolutionary rates compared to somatic tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate evolutionary rates of genes across 21 human brain regions.
  • To determine if expression levels and brain region (cortical vs. subcortical) influence evolutionary rates.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of gene expression data across 21 human brain regions.
  • Comparison of evolutionary rates for genes based on their expression patterns in cortical and subcortical areas.
  • Assessment of mammal-specific and primate-specific gene frequencies.

Main Results:

  • Genes highly expressed in cortical regions show lower evolutionary rates than those in subcortical regions.
  • Higher expression in both cortical and subcortical regions correlates with lower evolutionary rates due to broader functional constraints.
  • Cortical regions exhibit a stronger inverse correlation between gene expression and evolutionary rate than subcortical regions.

Conclusions:

  • Genes expressed in cortical regions are more conserved than those in subcortical regions.
  • Gene expression imposes stronger evolutionary constraints on sequence evolution in cortical areas compared to subcortical areas.
  • Cortically expressed genes face greater selective pressure, suggesting increased evolutionary recentness and conservation.