Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

48.4K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
48.4K
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

33.1K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
33.1K
Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

42.3K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
42.3K
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

3.8K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
3.8K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

3.7K
3.7K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

8.2K
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
8.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Evolution of Adaptive Non-Shivering Thermogenesis in Mammals.

Physiology (Bethesda, Md.)·2026
Same author

Retention and tissue-specific expression of uncoupling protein homoeologs in Xenopus laevis.

Biology open·2026
Same author

Unraveling hidden species diversity of talpid moles using phylogenomics and skull-based deep learning.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Publisher Correction: GLP-1R-GIPR-PPARα/γ/δ quintuple agonism corrects obesity and diabetes in mice.

Nature·2026
Same author

Why Physiology Needs to Embrace Structural Biology - The Hot Case of Thermogenic UCP1.

Acta physiologica (Oxford, England)·2026
Same author

GLP-1R-GIPR-PPARα/γ/δ quintuple agonism corrects obesity and diabetes in mice.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Endothelial Cell Phenotypic Plasticity in Atherosclerosis.

Handbook of experimental pharmacology·2026
Same journal

Endothelial Dysfunction and Neurovascular Alterations in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Handbook of experimental pharmacology·2026
Same journal

Molecular Mechanisms of Endothelial Shear Stress Mechanotransduction in Health and Disease.

Handbook of experimental pharmacology·2026
Same journal

Microvasculature of the Pancreatic Islets of Langerhans in Health and Diabetes.

Handbook of experimental pharmacology·2026
Same journal

Mechanisms of Actions of Physiological, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Dietary Bioactive Inorganic Boron.

Handbook of experimental pharmacology·2026
Same journal

BNCT Plus Luminescence: New Paradigm for Boron-Containing Drug Design.

Handbook of experimental pharmacology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase
12:02

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Published on: May 29, 2008

10.1K

Evolution of UCP1.

Michael J Gaudry1, Kevin L Campbell1, Martin Jastroch2,3

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|May 12, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) holds potential for metabolic disease treatment. Its heat-producing protein, UCP1, evolved early but was repeatedly lost in mammals, offering clues for therapeutic stimulation.

Keywords:
Brown adipose tissueEvolutionMetabolic diseaseThermogenesisUncoupling protein

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution
08:11

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution

Published on: June 14, 2024

1.4K
Evolution of Staircase Structures in Diffusive Convection
07:28

Evolution of Staircase Structures in Diffusive Convection

Published on: September 5, 2018

6.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase
12:02

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Published on: May 29, 2008

10.1K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution
08:11

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution

Published on: June 14, 2024

1.4K
Evolution of Staircase Structures in Diffusive Convection
07:28

Evolution of Staircase Structures in Diffusive Convection

Published on: September 5, 2018

6.9K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Metabolic Physiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a heat-producing organ in placental mammals, crucial for combating metabolic diseases.
  • The thermogenic uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in BAT is key to its function, but its evolutionary history is complex.
  • Understanding UCP1's origin and modifications is vital for harnessing BAT's therapeutic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review insights into the molecular evolution of UCP1.
  • To reconstruct the selective pressures favoring brown fat thermogenesis in placental mammals.
  • To understand how thermogenic mitochondrial uncoupling integrated into brown adipocyte physiology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of topical insights regarding UCP1 molecular evolution.
  • Reconstruction of proximate and ultimate factors selecting for brown fat thermogenesis.
  • Analysis of comparative studies on UCP1 occurrence across vertebrates and mammals.

Main Results:

  • UCP1 originated before mammals and has been repeatedly lost or inactivated during mammalian evolution.
  • Comparative studies reveal ancient origins and subsequent gene loss events for UCP1.
  • Insights into UCP1's evolutionary trajectory inform our understanding of its physiological integration.

Conclusions:

  • The evolutionary history of UCP1 provides a framework for understanding brown fat thermogenesis.
  • Identifying conditions favoring UCP1 thermogenesis can lead to the discovery of molecular targets.
  • This knowledge may enable pharmacological stimulation of BAT for metabolic disease treatment.