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Related Concept Videos

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.
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...
Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins01:03

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins

For successful DNA replication, the unwinding of double-stranded DNA must be accompanied by stabilization and protection of the separated single strands of the DNA. This crucial task is performed by single-strand DNA-binding (SSB) proteins. They bind to the DNA in a sequence-independent manner, which means that the nitrogenous bases of the DNA need not be present in a specific order for binding of SSB proteins to it. The binding of SSB proteins straightens single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and makes...

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Combined Nucleotide and Protein Extractions in Caenorhabditis elegans
10:37

Combined Nucleotide and Protein Extractions in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: March 17, 2019

Protein material costs: single atoms can make an evolutionary difference.

Jason G Bragg1, Andreas Wagner

  • 1Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.

Trends in Genetics : TIG
|November 18, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Gene expression incurs material costs. Natural selection can detect and act on mutations that slightly increase these costs, even single amino acid changes, impacting yeast growth.

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Combined Nucleotide and Protein Extractions in Caenorhabditis elegans
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OaAEP1-Mediated Enzymatic Synthesis and Immobilization of Polymerized Protein for Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy

Published on: February 5, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Gene expression, the process of creating messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteins, requires significant amounts of essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.
  • These elemental resources are often ecologically limiting, meaning their availability can constrain organismal growth and reproduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether natural selection can detect and respond to mutations that increase the material costs of gene expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • To determine if even minor increases in expression or single amino acid substitutions are subject to selective pressures based on their elemental requirements.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) as a model organism.
  • Analyzed mutations affecting gene expression levels and protein sequences.
  • Assessed the impact of these mutations on growth rates in the context of elemental resource limitation.

Main Results:

  • Mutations leading to small increases in gene expression were found to be 'visible' to natural selection.
  • Even single amino acid replacements in proteins were subject to selection based on their material (elemental) costs.
  • These findings indicate that the biochemical costs of gene expression can influence evolutionary trajectories.

Conclusions:

  • The material costs associated with gene expression are a significant factor in evolutionary processes.
  • Natural selection can effectively act on subtle genetic changes that alter the elemental economy of gene expression.
  • Understanding these costs provides insights into the evolution of genome size and protein composition.