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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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Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

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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...
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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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Mutations in Microorganisms01:18

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Mutations are heritable changes in an organism’s genome involving alterations in the base sequence of DNA or RNA. These changes can influence cellular processes and phenotypic traits, potentially transforming the unaltered wild type into a mutant form. Such changes, termed forward mutations, are pivotal in shaping the genetic diversity of organisms.RNA viruses exhibit the highest mutation rates due to the absence of robust proofreading mechanisms during genome replication. In contrast,...
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Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

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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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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 30, 2025

Mucin Agarose Gel Electrophoresis: Western Blotting for High-molecular-weight Glycoproteins
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A mechanism of gene evolution generating mucin function.

Petar Pajic1,2, Shichen Shen3,4, Jun Qu3,4

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.

Science Advances
|August 26, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Novel gene functions evolve through exonic repeats and copy number variation, particularly in mucin evolution. This study reveals 15 new cases of evolutionary convergence, highlighting proline-rich proteins as precursors for mucin function.

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Profiling of Permethylated Mucin O-glycans Using Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry
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Using Unfixed, Frozen Tissues to Study Natural Mucin Distribution
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Using Unfixed, Frozen Tissues to Study Natural Mucin Distribution

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Mucin Agarose Gel Electrophoresis: Western Blotting for High-molecular-weight Glycoproteins
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Profiling of Permethylated Mucin O-glycans Using Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry
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Using Unfixed, Frozen Tissues to Study Natural Mucin Distribution
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Using Unfixed, Frozen Tissues to Study Natural Mucin Distribution

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genomics
  • Proteomics

Background:

  • Mucin proteins represent a functionally defined group with unclear evolutionary origins.
  • Understanding how new gene functions emerge is a core biological question.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of genomic variation in the evolution of novel gene functions, specifically within mucin protein families.
  • To identify mechanisms driving the de novo evolution of mucin function through evolutionary convergence.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of genomic variation across diverse mammalian genomes.
  • Integration of bioinformatic, phylogenetic, proteomic, and immunohistochemical techniques.
  • Identification of exonic repeat gain and copy number variation as key evolutionary events.

Main Results:

  • Identified 15 novel instances of evolutionary convergence in mucin evolution.
  • Demonstrated that densely O-glycosylated exonic repeat domains contribute to new mucin origins.
  • Found that proline-rich secreted proteins can serve as precursors for mucin function.

Conclusions:

  • Exonic repeats and their copy number variation are significant drivers of new gene function evolution.
  • Evolutionary convergence, particularly through gain of O-glycosylated repeat domains, shapes protein function.
  • The study provides insights into the parallel evolution of secreted proteins and glycosylation-associated functions.