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Related Concept Videos

Gene Families01:57

Gene Families

Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Gene Families01:57

Gene Families

Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
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...
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

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Using SCOPE to Identify Potential Regulatory Motifs in Coregulated Genes
07:55

Using SCOPE to Identify Potential Regulatory Motifs in Coregulated Genes

Published on: May 31, 2011

Synonymous genes explore different evolutionary landscapes.

Guillaume Cambray1, Didier Mazel

  • 1Unité Plasticité du Génome Bactérien, Institut Pasteur, CNRS URA 2171, Paris, France.

Plos Genetics
|November 15, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Synonymous DNA sequences can alter protein evolution by accessing diverse amino acid sequences. Rational design of synthetic genes enhances protein evolvability and directed evolution protocols.

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Last Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Using SCOPE to Identify Potential Regulatory Motifs in Coregulated Genes
07:55

Using SCOPE to Identify Potential Regulatory Motifs in Coregulated Genes

Published on: May 31, 2011

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

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Genetic Mapping of Thermotolerance Differences Between Species of Saccharomyces Yeast via Genome-Wide Reciprocal Hemizygosity Analysis
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Genetic Mapping of Thermotolerance Differences Between Species of Saccharomyces Yeast via Genome-Wide Reciprocal Hemizygosity Analysis

Published on: August 12, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Gene evolution is influenced by both amino acid and DNA sequences.
  • Synonymous codons offer distinct mutational pathways to different amino acids.
  • This property can impact natural protein evolution and protein engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of synonymous DNA sequences in manipulating protein evolvability.
  • To design and test an algorithm for generating synonymous sequences with maximized evolutionary potential.
  • To assess the impact of synonymous sequence design on directed evolution outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Developed an algorithm to design synonymous gene sequences maximizing access to diverse amino acids.
  • Synthesized a synonymous version of a bacterial antibiotic resistance gene.
  • Compared the directed evolution of wild-type and synonymous genes using identical protocols.
  • Conducted simulations to evaluate the effect of codon usage on adaptation.

Main Results:

  • Both wild-type and synonymous genes yielded advantageous phenotypic variants under directed evolution.
  • The designed synonymous sequence increased the diversity of generated mutants.
  • Simulations confirmed that codon usage influences natural adaptation pathways.
  • Synonymous sequence design is an effective enhancement for directed evolution.

Conclusions:

  • Rational design of synonymous synthetic genes can improve directed evolution protocols.
  • Synonymous DNA sequences explore different regions of the protein adaptive landscape.
  • Codon usage is a significant constraint on protein evolution.