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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
09:29
A Complete Pipeline for Isolating and Sequencing MicroRNAs, and Analyzing Them Using Open Source Tools
Published on: August 21, 2019
Systematic analysis of human microRNA divergence based on evolutionary emergence
Qiang-Hu Wang1, Meng Zhou, Jie Sun
1College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
FEBS Letters
|December 7, 2010
Summary
Human microRNAs (miRNAs) expanded with vertebrates, mammals, and primates. These evolutionary expansions show genetic and functional diversification, offering insights into miRNA gene origins and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression.
- Understanding the evolutionary history of human miRNAs provides insights into gene regulation and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary distribution and diversification of human miRNA genes.
- To compare features of lineage-specific human miRNAs across evolutionary time points.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive sequence-based homology searches for known human miRNAs.
- Comparative analysis of features for different lineage-specific human miRNAs.
Main Results:
- Major expansions of human miRNA genes correlate with the emergence of vertebrates, mammals, and primates.
- Significant differences in characteristics were observed among human miRNAs originating from different evolutionary periods.
- Evidence suggests genetic and functional diversification of human miRNAs throughout evolution.
Conclusions:
- Human miRNA gene evolution is linked to major vertebrate, mammalian, and primate radiations.
- Diversification in miRNA genes occurred at different evolutionary stages, impacting their function.
- This study enhances understanding of the origins and evolutionary trajectory of human miRNA genes.
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