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Related Concept Videos

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.
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.The structures that arise from convergent evolution are called analogous structures. They are similar in function even if they are dissimilar in structure. Further, structures can be analogous while also...
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.
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Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...
Multi-species Conserved Sequences02:51

Multi-species Conserved Sequences

Next-generation sequencing technologies have created large genomic databases of a variety of animals and plants. Ever since the human genome project was completed, scientists studied the genome of primates, mammals, and other phylogenetically distant living beings. Such large-scale  studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary relationship between organisms.
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved DNA...
Cis-regulatory Sequences02:02

Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...

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Related Experiment Video

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Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information
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Vertebrate paralogous MEF2 genes: origin, conservation, and evolution.

Wenwu Wu1, Stefan de Folter, Xia Shen

  • 1College of Life Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.

Plos One
|March 12, 2011
PubMed
Summary

The evolution of myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) genes in vertebrates reveals distinct evolutionary paths for MEF2B and suggests gene duplication events shaped the MEF2 family. These findings clarify MEF2 gene relationships and guide future research.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genomics
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • The myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) gene family plays a crucial role in muscle cell development and function.
  • While MEF2 transcription factors' roles in gene regulation are known, their evolutionary origins in vertebrates remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary history and conservation of the four MEF2 genes (MEF2A, MEF2B, MEF2C, MEF2D) in vertebrates.
  • To understand the duplication events and selective pressures that shaped the MEF2 gene family.

Main Methods:

  • Phylogenetic analyses were employed to study the MEF2 gene family.
  • Substitution rate analyses (Ka/Ks ratios, M0 vs. M3 models, branch-site analysis) were used to infer evolutionary dynamics.
  • Comparative analysis with MADS genes in animals and plants was performed.

Main Results:

  • MEF2B is evolutionarily distinct from MEF2A, MEF2C, and MEF2D, partly due to the absence of the HJURP_C region.
  • Three gene duplication events are proposed, with the latest occurring near the vertebrate origin, producing MEF2A and MEF2C.
  • MEF2B exhibits faster evolution than other MEF2 genes, with evidence of positive selection at specific sites (53 and 64).
  • MEF2-like (type II MADS) genes in animals evolve at rates comparable to SRF-like (type I MADS) genes, contrasting with plant evolution.

Conclusions:

  • The study elucidates the evolutionary relationships among MEF2A, MEF2B, MEF2C, and MEF2D in vertebrates.
  • Findings provide a foundation for future studies on the specific, yet overlapping, functions of MEF2 genes in different tissues.