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Related Concept Videos

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.
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Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
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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.
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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.
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Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

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Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information
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When orthologs diverge between human and mouse.

Walid H Gharib1, Marc Robinson-Rechavi

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne University, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Briefings in Bioinformatics
|June 17, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human and mouse orthologous genes sometimes have different functions, even though mice are used as a model for human biology. This review examines evidence of functional divergence between human and mouse genes.

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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Comparative Biology
  • Biomedical Research

Background:

  • Orthologous genes are typically assumed to retain similar functions across species.
  • Functional divergence between orthologs has been reported, even in closely related species like mammals.
  • The mouse is a widely used model organism for studying human biology and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on functional divergence between human and mouse orthologous genes.
  • To discuss the implications of this divergence for biomedical research utilizing the mouse model.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies comparing human and mouse orthologous gene functions.
  • Analysis of reported cases of functional divergence.
  • Synthesis of findings in the context of translational research.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests that functional divergence between human and mouse orthologs is not uncommon.
  • Specific examples of divergent gene functions highlight potential limitations of the mouse model.
  • The degree of divergence can vary, impacting the direct applicability of mouse study results to human conditions.

Conclusions:

  • The assumption of conserved function between human and mouse orthologs requires careful consideration.
  • Understanding gene functional divergence is crucial for accurate interpretation of mouse model studies in human biology.
  • Biomedical research should account for potential ortholog divergence when extrapolating findings from mice to humans.