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Related Concept Videos

Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

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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...
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Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

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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.
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Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

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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.
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Genetic Variation01:25

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Genetic variation is the diversity in DNA sequences found among individuals of the same species. This diversity is crucial for a species' survival because it helps organisms adapt to environmental changes. Genetic variation begins with fertilization, where an egg and sperm cell merge. Each of these cells carries 23 chromosomes, up to 46 in the fertilized egg. Chromosomes are long DNA strands that contain genes, the basic units of heredity.
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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...
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Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin
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Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

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How new genes are born.

Urminder Singh1, Eve Syrkin Wurtele1

  • 1Department of Genetics, Developmental and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, United States.

Elife
|February 20, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sequence divergence does not primarily create orphan genes, according to an analysis of yeast, fly, and human genomes. This finding impacts our understanding of gene evolution and function.

Keywords:
D. melanogasterS. cerevisiaecomputational biologyconserved syntenyde novo gene emergenceevolutionevolutionary biologygenetic noveltyhumanorphan genessequence divergencesystems biology

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G2-seq: A High Throughput Sequencing-based Technique for Identifying Late Replicating Regions of the Genome
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G2-seq: A High Throughput Sequencing-based Technique for Identifying Late Replicating Regions of the Genome
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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Orphan genes, lacking recognizable homologs, pose a challenge to understanding genome evolution.
  • Previous hypotheses suggested sequence divergence as a primary driver for the emergence of orphan genes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the primary evolutionary mechanisms responsible for the origin of orphan genes.
  • To analyze genomic data from diverse species to test hypotheses about orphan gene formation.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomic analysis across yeast, fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), and human genomes.
  • Sequence alignment and homology searches to identify gene families and potential orphan genes.

Main Results:

  • Analysis indicates that sequence divergence alone is insufficient to explain the majority of orphan genes observed.
  • The study suggests alternative evolutionary pathways contribute significantly to the generation of novel genes.

Conclusions:

  • Sequence divergence is not the principal source of orphan genes in the analyzed eukaryotic genomes.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying orphan gene evolution.