Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026

A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia
Published on: June 15, 2011
Open questions in the study of de novo genes: what, how and why
Aoife McLysaght1, Laurence D Hurst2
1The Smurfit Institute of Genetics, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Abstract:
The study of de novo protein-coding genes is maturing from the ad hoc reporting of individual cases to the systematic analysis of extensive genomic data from several species. We identify three key challenges for this emerging field: understanding how best to identify de novo genes, how they arise and why they spread. We highlight the intellectual challenges of understanding how a de novo gene becomes integrated into pre-existing functions and becomes essential. We suggest that, as with protein sequence evolution, antagonistic co-evolution may be key to de novo gene evolution, particularly for new essential genes and new cancer-associated genes.
Related Concept Videos
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Gene Duplication and Divergence
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...
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets

