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Neocortical development as an evolutionary platform for intragenomic conflict
1Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Dresden, Germany.
Frontiers in Neuroanatomy
|April 12, 2013
Summary
Genomic conflict between maternal and paternal genomes drives mammalian neocortex evolution. This parent-offspring conflict influences gene expression, impacting brain development and expansion.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Developmental biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Mammalian embryonic development involves genomic conflict between maternal and paternal genomes.
- Parent-offspring conflict influences gene expression, favoring sex-chromosome and imprinted genes.
- Convergent evolution of the mammalian neocortex may be linked to parent-of-origin gene expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genomic underpinnings of parent-offspring conflict in neocortical development and evolution.
- To explore the role of intragenomic conflict in mammalian neocortical expansion.
- To examine evidence for positive selection in human genomic regions associated with conflict.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of human genomic regions (chromosomes 15q11-q13 and X) for evidence of positive selection.
- Exploration of cis-regulated imprinted domains and their relevance to neocortical expansion.
- Hypothesis and theory development based on existing evolutionary and genomic data.
Main Results:
- Preliminary evidence suggests positive selection in human chromosomes 15q11-q13 and X, regions implicated in genomic conflict.
- Identification of potential links between imprinted gene domains and neocortical expansion.
- Hypothesized intragenomic competition influencing neocortical development.
Conclusions:
- Parent-offspring conflict, mediated by genomic imprinting, is a significant factor in mammalian neocortical evolution.
- Maternal and paternal genomic pressures on the developing neocortex may drive its expansion.
- Further genomic investigation is needed to fully elucidate the role of intragenomic conflict in brain evolution.
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