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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.
Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
Formation of Species01:31

Formation of Species

Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.
Polytene Chromosomes02:04

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...
Polytene Chromosomes02:04

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...

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Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans
07:54

Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: March 15, 2018

Polyploidy and the evolution of complex traits.

Lukasz Huminiecki1, Gavin C Conant

  • 1CMB, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.

International Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|August 18, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) drive complex cellular innovations, enabling major evolutionary transitions beyond single-gene changes. These events, like those in yeast and vertebrates, highlight WGD

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Sequential single-gene duplications have limitations in driving complex evolutionary innovations.
  • Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) represent a distinct evolutionary mechanism for generating novelty.
  • Understanding WGDs is crucial for comprehending major evolutionary transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how whole-genome duplications (WGDs) facilitate complex cellular network innovations.
  • To analyze specific WGD events in yeast and early vertebrates (2R-WGD).
  • To discuss the evolutionary potential of WGDs in driving major evolutionary transitions.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of two distinct WGD events: one in bakers' yeast and one at the vertebrate ancestor (2R-WGD).
  • Detailed examination of complex adaptations arising from these WGDs.
  • Theoretical discussion on the implications of WGDs for evolutionary theory.

Main Results:

  • WGDs can generate complex cellular innovations, such as aerobic ethanol fermentation in yeast, that are unlikely via single-gene duplications.
  • The two-round whole-genome duplication (2R-WGD) in vertebrates significantly rewired developmental regulatory networks.
  • These examples demonstrate WGDs' capacity to facilitate substantial evolutionary leaps.

Conclusions:

  • Whole-genome duplications are powerful drivers of evolutionary innovation, enabling complexity beyond incremental gene duplication.
  • The study of WGDs necessitates a potential update to modern evolutionary theory, integrating systems biology perspectives.
  • WGDs are pivotal events for understanding major evolutionary transitions across diverse eukaryotic lineages.