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Related Concept Videos

Hemoglobin01:24

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a globular protein made up of four subunits. Two of these subunits are alpha chains, and the other two are beta chains. Each subunit contains a molecule of heme, which has an iron atom and can bind to oxygen. When an oxygen molecule binds to one heme group, it changes the shape of hemoglobin, making it easier for the other heme groups to bind oxygen as well.
When all four heme groups are bound to oxygen, the resulting molecule is called oxyhemoglobin. As a result, arterial blood...
General Transcription Factors01:30

General Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
Multiple Allele Traits01:49

Multiple Allele Traits

The Concept of Multiple Allelism
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
09:43

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 9, 2015

Globin genes on the move.

Ross C Hardison1

  • 1Center for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics, Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA. rch8@psu.edu

Journal of Biology
|December 2, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Beta-globin genes in platypus have transposed between chromosomal locations, offering new insights into vertebrate globin gene evolution. This finding resolves some long-standing debates while opening new avenues for research.

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Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
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Published on: July 9, 2015

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CRISPR-Mediated Reorganization of Chromatin Loop Structure
09:20

CRISPR-Mediated Reorganization of Chromatin Loop Structure

Published on: September 14, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The evolution of globin genes across vertebrates is complex and has been a subject of ongoing research.
  • Understanding gene arrangement and duplication events is crucial for deciphering evolutionary pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary history of beta-globin genes in platypus.
  • To analyze gene transposition events within globin gene clusters.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analysis of globin gene clusters.
  • Bioinformatic analysis of platypus and other vertebrate genomic data.

Main Results:

  • Evidence of beta-globin gene transposition in platypus.
  • Demonstration of gene movement within globin gene clusters across species.

Conclusions:

  • Beta-globin gene transposition contributes to vertebrate globin gene evolution.
  • The findings resolve some existing controversies but raise new questions in the field.