Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026
06:41
In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila
Published on: August 20, 2019
14.5K
flyDIVaS: A Comparative Genomics Resource for Drosophila Divergence and Selection
Craig E Stanley1, Rob J Kulathinal2
1Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122.
G3 (Bethesda, Md.)
|May 27, 2016
Summary
The flyDIVaS database offers updated comparative genomics for Drosophila, revealing conserved and diverged genes. This resource aids biological discovery and training with accessible evolutionary data.
Area of Science:
- * Evolutionary biology
- * Genomics
- * Bioinformatics
Background:
- * Drosophila melanogaster is a key model organism in genetics.
- * Previous comparative genomics resources for Drosophila are outdated and inaccessible.
- * An updated resource is needed for evolutionary inference and biological discovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To provide an updated and accessible comparative genomics resource for Drosophila.
- * To analyze Drosophila divergence and selection using the latest genomic data.
- * To facilitate biological inference and training in evolutionary genomics.
Main Methods:
- * Development of the flyDIVaS online database.
- * Integration of latest genomic assemblies, FlyBase annotations, and OrthoDB orthology calls.
- * Generation of orthologous gene sets, alignments, divergence statistics, and selection tests.
Main Results:
- * flyDIVaS contains D. melanogaster-centric orthologous gene sets and evolutionary statistics.
- * Approximately 80% of genes have orthologs in D. simulans, and 50% in 12-way alignments.
- * Conserved mitotic/neural genes and diverged immune/reproduction genes identified; positive selection enriched in highly diverged genes.
Conclusions:
- * flyDIVaS is a valuable, regularly updated resource for Drosophila evolutionary genomics.
- * The database supports biological discovery, evolutionary inference, and educational training.
- * Researchers are encouraged to utilize flyDIVaS for integrated genomic big data analysis.
Related Concept Videos
02:46Genetic Screens
5.8K
Genetic screens are tools used to identify genes and mutations responsible for phenotypes of interest. Genetic screens help identify individuals or a group of people at risk of developing genetic diseases and help them with early intervention, targeted therapy, and reproductive options.
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which...
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which...
5.8K
02:54Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
7.2K
Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
7.2K
02:02Cis-regulatory Sequences
12.1K
Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...
12.1K
02:37Gene Duplication and Divergence
8.2K
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...
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...
8.2K