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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Gene product diversity: adaptive or not?

Jianzhi Zhang¹, Chuan Xu²

¹Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.

Trends in Genetics : TIG

|May 31, 2022

Summary

One gene can produce multiple RNA and protein molecules, including circular RNAs and altered proteins. Genome-wide analysis suggests this diversity often results from molecular errors rather than adaptive gene regulation.

Keywords:

molecular error natural selection post-transcriptional modification transcription translation

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Area of Science:

Genomics
Molecular Biology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

The central dogma of molecular biology, stating one gene produces one protein, is an oversimplification.
Modern genomics reveals extensive post-transcriptional and translational modifications leading to diverse gene products from a single gene.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether the diversity of RNA and protein products from a single gene arises from adaptive regulation or molecular errors.
To assess the implications of gene product diversity for understanding gene function and cellular evolution.

Main Methods:

Analysis of genome-scale patterns of gene product diversity.
Examination of specific mechanisms generating diversity, including circular RNA formation, RNA editing, and stop codon readthrough.

Main Results:

While some gene product diversity can be beneficial and regulated, genome-wide data indicate that a significant portion arises from nonadaptive molecular errors.
Examples of diversity include circular RNAs, RNA editing, and stop codon readthrough, contributing to varied protein products.

Conclusions:

Much of the observed gene product diversity may stem from inherent molecular inaccuracies rather than precise biological control.
Understanding these nonadaptive processes is crucial for accurate functional studies and for comprehending the evolution of cellular life.