Related Concept Videos
03:36Genome Annotation and Assembly
The genome refers to all of the genetic material in an organism. It can range from a few million base pairs in microbial cells to several billion base pairs in many eukaryotic organisms. Genome assembly refers to the process of taking the DNA sequencing data and putting it all back together in a correct order to create a close representation of the original genome. This is followed by the identification of functional elements on the newly assembled genome, a process called genome annotation.
03:21Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
03:21Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
02:32Exon 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...
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
02:02Genomics
Genomics is the science of genomes: it is the study of all the genetic material of an organism. In humans, the genome consists of information carried in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus, as well as mitochondrial DNA. In genomics, both coding and non-coding DNA is sequenced and analyzed. Genomics allows a better understanding of all living things, their evolution, and their diversity. It has a myriad of uses: for example, to build phylogenetic trees, to improve productivity and...
03:00Next-generation Sequencing
The first human genome sequencing project cost $2.7 billion and was declared complete in 2003, after 15 years of international cooperation and collaboration between several research teams and funding agencies. Today, with the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies, the cost and time of sequencing a human genome have dropped over 100 fold.
Next-Generation Sequencing Methods
Although all next-generation methods use different technologies, they all share a set of standard features.
Next-Generation Sequencing Methods
Although all next-generation methods use different technologies, they all share a set of standard features.
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Analysis of the impact of gene evolution on reproductive effects reveals prevalent sexual and germline-soma conflicts.
Nature ecology & evolution·2026
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
13:11
Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain
Published on: July 12, 2012
New genes expressed in human brains: implications for annotating evolving genomes.
Yong E Zhang1, Patrick Landback, Maria Vibranovski
1Key Laboratory of the Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.R. China.
Summary
New genes are constantly evolving and becoming integrated into genomes, particularly in the human brain. Understanding these new genes is crucial for studying evolution and cognition.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Genomics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Lineage-specific genes frequently arise and become fixed across diverse organisms.
- Recent studies show primate- and human-specific genes are upregulated in fetal and infant brains, especially the prefrontal cortex.
- This indicates significant new genetic material is added to the human brain transcriptome, suggesting ongoing genome evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the under-characterization of new genes in functional studies.
- To address the inconsistency in new gene annotation practices.
- To propose an integrative approach for improved new gene annotation.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing functional genomic methods.
- Employing evolutionary genomic methods.
- Integrating diverse genomic approaches for annotation.
Main Results:
- New genes are prevalent and contribute to lineage-specific adaptations.
- Upregulation of new genes in the developing human brain suggests a role in cognitive evolution.
- Current functional characterization and annotation of new genes are insufficient.
Conclusions:
- Refined annotation of new genes is essential for understanding their functional roles.
- Improved annotation will aid in detecting evolutionary forces driving new gene origination.
- Genomes are dynamic, with continuous addition of genetic components impacting evolution and function.