Phylogenomic analysis of the cystatin superfamily in eukaryotes and prokaryotes Nov 18, 2009
A primordial gene duplication produced two ancestral eukaryotic lineages, cystatins and stefins. While stefins remain encoded by a single or a small number of genes throughout the eukaryotes, the cystatins have undergone a more complex and dynamic evolution through numerous gene and domain duplications. (BioMed Central)
Human Biological Complexity Mechanism Found Nov 4, 2009
"These poorly packed proteins are potential troublemakers when gene duplication occurs," Fernandez said. "The paralog encodes more copies of the protein than the body needs. This is called a 'dosage imbalance,' and it can make us sick. For instance, dosage imbalance has been implicated in Alzheimer's and other diseases.". (Science Daily)
Allergy: Solving The Mystery Of IgE Sep 15, 2009
It therefore originated at least 160 million years ago, possibly even more than 300 million years ago, from a gene duplication of IgY, in which the anaphylactic and opsonic activities of IgY were separated, giving rise to IgE and IgG, respectively. IgG now represented the opsonic activities, which are needed to label antigens with antibodies and complement factors to enable scavenger cells to recognizes and destroy the enemy. (Science Daily)
Spare Gene Is Fodder For Fishes' Evolution Sep 4, 2009
Although little is known about the genetic basis of that diversity, it is clear that gene duplication is commonplace within teleost groups, providing a source of genetic raw material for selection. To further explore in the new study, the researchers first examined mutant strains of zebrafish in search of those with changes to their fins, skulls, or scales, all structures that tend to vary among species. (Science Daily)
Computer Scientists Develop Model For Studying Arrangements Of Tissue Networks By Cell Division Jul 4, 2009
(May 31, 2007) Refuting previous studies, the authors show by computer simulation that modular structures can arise during network growth via a simple model of gene duplication, without a natural selection. . (Science Daily)
TB vaccine gets its groove back May 20, 2009
Two years ago, after the Kernodle group had modified BCG and was beginning to test it for immune responses, researchers at the Institut Pasteur in Paris published a paper describing the genomic evolution of BCG. They found that in addition to containing gene deletions consistent with attenuation of the vaccine, the BCG genome also had regions of gene duplication and increased gene expression. Some of the duplicated and over-expressed genes were for antioxidants already being targeted by the... (EurekAlert!)
Bioinformatics Sheds Light On Evolutionary Origin Of Rickettsia Virulence Genes Mar 20, 2009
In addition to the evolutionarily conserved nature of the Rickettsia type IV secretion system, informatics analysis revealed some unexpected properties, including gene duplication of nearly half of its components. Gene duplication is very rare in Rickettsia genomes. (Science Daily)
Elephant shark genome sequence leads to discovery of color perception in deep-sea fish Mar 18, 2009
The research team found that the elephant shark had three cone pigments for color vision and, like humans, it accomplished this through gene duplication ... "Into the blue: gene duplication and loss underlie colour vision adaptations in a deep-sea chimaera, the elephant shark Callorhinchus milii", Genome Research (2009) 19: 415-426. (EurekAlert!)
Gene Duplication Sparked Human Evolution? Feb 12, 2009
Did Burst Of Gene Duplication Set Stage For Human Evolution ... Did Burst Of Gene Duplication Set Stage For Human Evolution ... But that gene duplication also may be responsible for a genetic flexibility that has resulted in some uniquely human characteristics. (Science Daily)
