Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
13:04
Overexpressing Long Noncoding RNAs Using Gene-activating CRISPR
Published on: March 1, 2019
8.3K
Late-replicating CNVs as a source of new genes
David Juan1, Daniel Rico, Tomas Marques-Bonet
1Structural Biology and BioComputing Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
Biology Open
|November 29, 2013
Summary
New gene formation is linked to DNA replication timing. Genes duplicated recently are enriched in late-replicating regions, suggesting an active process influencing genome evolution.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Asynchronous DNA replication correlates with mutation rates and copy number variations (CNVs).
- Replication timing may influence the generation and fixation of genetic variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if DNA replication timing biases CNV generation, potentially impacting the evolution of new protein-coding genes.
- To explore the relationship between replication timing and the evolutionary age of duplicated genes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of gene duplication events during primate evolution.
- Correlation of gene duplication age with replication timing in human and mouse genomes.
- Examination of copy number variation (CNV) regions and their replication timing.
Main Results:
- Genes duplicated during primate evolution are frequently located in late-replicating CNV regions.
- A significant enrichment of younger gene duplicates was observed in late-replicating genomic regions in humans and mice.
- The proportion of duplicates in late-replicating regions decreases with increasing evolutionary time since duplication.
Conclusions:
- Recent gene duplications preferentially accumulate in late-replicating CNV regions.
- Replication timing plays an active role in shaping genome evolution by influencing the birth and retention of new genes.
Related Concept Videos
02:26Comparing Copy Number Variations and SNPs
11.6K
Sequencing of the human genome has opened up several best-kept secrets of the genome. Scientists have identified thousands of genome variations that exist within a population. These variations can be a single nucleotide or a larger chromosomal variation.
Copy number variations or CNVs are the structural variations that cover more than 1kb of DNA sequence. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), on the other hand, is a single nucleotide change or a point mutation that is found in more than 1%...
Copy number variations or CNVs are the structural variations that cover more than 1kb of DNA sequence. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), on the other hand, is a single nucleotide change or a point mutation that is found in more than 1%...
11.6K
02:32Exon Recombination
3.1K
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...
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
3.1K
03:21Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
7.6K
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.
7.6K
02:08Gene Conversion
9.2K
Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...
9.2K
02:08Gene Conversion
2.3K
2.3K
01:05Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
14.8K
A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
14.8K