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Related Concept Videos

Gene Families01:57

Gene Families

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Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
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Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

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Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
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Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
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Non-nuclear Inheritance01:29

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Most DNA resides in the nucleus of a cell. However, some organelles in the cell cytoplasm⁠—such as chloroplasts and mitochondria⁠—also have their own DNA. These organelles replicate their DNA independently of the nuclear DNA of the cell in which they reside. Non-nuclear inheritance describes the inheritance of genes from structures other than the nucleus.
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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. 
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Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance01:39

Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance

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In 1866, Gregor Mendel published the results of his pea plant breeding experiments, providing evidence for predictable patterns in the inheritance of physical characteristics. The significance of his findings was not immediately recognized. In fact, the existence of genes was unknown at the time. Mendel referred to hereditary units as “factors.”
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Updated: Jun 8, 2025

A Reverse Genetic Approach to Test Functional Redundancy During Embryogenesis
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Orphan genes are not a distinct biological entity.

Andres Barboza Pereira1,2, Matthew Marano2, Ramya Bathala3

  • 1Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics & Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.

Bioessays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
|November 4, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Orphan genes, once thought to be species-specific, are a diverse group with varied evolutionary origins. This heterogeneity makes them unsuitable for studying gene evolution or phenotypic innovation.

Keywords:
ORFansgene evolutionlineage‐specific genesphylostratigraphyspecies‐specific genestaxonomically restricted genes

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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Genome sequencing reveals numerous unique genes crucial for species adaptation and evolution.
  • Orphan genes, defined as protein-coding sequences without genomic homology, are often assumed to be species-specific.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the evolutionary age and origin of orphan genes.
  • To determine if orphan genes are suitable for investigating gene evolution and phenotypic innovation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of taxonomic, phylogenetic, and sequence evolution data.
  • Evaluation of evidence for gene origin mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Orphan genes exhibit a wide range of evolutionary ages and do not belong to a single lineage.
  • Gene birth mechanisms for orphan genes are diverse, including horizontal gene transfer, transposable element domestication, and overprinting.

Conclusions:

  • Orphan genes represent a heterogeneous collection, not a single biological entity.
  • The diverse origins and ages of orphan genes preclude their use as valid proxies for species-specific genes or for studying phenotypic innovation.