Gene duplication coupled with expression specialization revealed prolonged effect of whole-genome duplications on recent vertebrate evolution.
Identified strong cores of pan-bilaterian tissue-specific genes and larger groups that diverged to define vertebrate and insect tissues.
Recent study reveals nearly half of all ancestral genes have been recruited into tissue-specific transcriptomes during bilaterian evolution.
Researchers assembled transcriptomic dataset covering 8 tissue types in 20 bilaterian species and performed phylogenetic analysis.
Title: Unraveling the Evolutionary Secrets of Ancestral Genes Across Bilaterian Species
Lead:
A recent study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, has shed new light on the evolution of tissue-specific genes across bilaterian species. The research reveals that nearly half of all ancestral genes have been recruited into tissue-specific transcriptomes during both ancient and recent bilaterian evolution.
Background:
The regulation of gene expression is a fundamental mechanism underlying the phenotypic diversity of tissues within and between species. In order to better understand this process, researchers assembled an extensive transcriptomic dataset covering 8 tissue types in 20 bilaterian species and performed analyses using a symmetric phylogeny that allowed for the combined and parallel investigation of gene expression evolution between vertebrates and insects.
Key Findings:
The study identified strong cores of pan-bilaterian tissue-specific genes, as well as larger groups that diverged to define vertebrate and insect tissues. Systematic inferences of tissue-specificity gains and losses showed that nearly half of all ancestral genes have been recruited into tissue-specific transcriptomes during both ancient and recent bilaterian evolution. Several gains in tissue specificity were associated with the emergence of unique phenotypes, such as novel cell types.
Additionally, gene duplication coupled with expression specialization of one copy revealed an unappreciated prolonged effect of whole-genome duplications on recent vertebrate evolution.
Implications:
These findings provide new insights into the evolutionary processes that underlie tissue-specific gene expression and contribute to our understanding of phenotypic diversity across bilaterian species.
Sources:
Nature Ecology & Evolution (2024). Evans, S. D., Hughes, I. V., Gehling, J. G, Droser, M. L.
Interesting Engineering (2024). 7,000 groups of genes traced to last common ancestor of bilaterians
An extensive transcriptomic dataset was assembled for 8 tissues across 20 bilaterian species.
Strong cores of pan-bilaterian tissue-specific genes were identified, along with larger groups that diverged to define vertebrate and insect tissues.
Nearly half of all ancestral genes have been recruited into tissue-specific transcriptomes during both ancient and recent bilaterian evolution.
Several gains in tissue specificity were associated with the emergence of unique phenotypes, such as novel cell types.
Gene duplication coupled with expression specialization of one copy revealed an unappreciated prolonged effect of whole-genome duplications on recent vertebrate evolution.
Accuracy
]An extensive transcriptomic dataset was assembled for 8 tissues across 20 bilaterian species.[
Half of these ancestral genes have been repurposed by animals for use in specific parts of the body, particularly in the brain and reproductive tissues.
Significant moments early in vertebrate history led to two whole genome duplication events, allowing animals to keep one copy for fundamental functions and use the second copy as raw material for evolutionary innovation.
The TESMIN and tomb genes, which originated from the same ancestor, ended up playing specialized roles in testis both in vertebrates and insects.
Problems with these genes can disrupt sperm production, affecting fertility in both mice and fruit flies.
Specific genes became specialized to muscles and the epidermis for cuticle formation in insects, contributing to their ability to fly.
Other genes became specialized to perceive light stimuli in the skin of octopuses, contributing to their ability to change color, camouflage and communicate with other octopuses.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains an informal fallacy of personification in the phrase 'Our genes are like a vast library of recipes that can be cooked up differently to create or change tissues and organs.' This is not an accurate description of genes, but rather a metaphor used by the author for explanatory purposes.
Our genes are like a vast library of recipes that can be cooked up differently to create or change tickets and organs.
