Concerted evolution: molecular mechanism and biological implications

Article Abstract:

Concerted evolution, the molecular process that leads to homogenization of DNA sequences of a given repetitive family, has biological implications. It is a universal biological phenomenon and may be a profound genetic force that promotes speciation, and paradoxically is a kind of quality control in production of components for complex macromolecular cell mechanisms. The proposal has been made that the primary driving force for concerted evolution of tandemly repeated multigene families is intrachromosomal homogenization. Gene conversion seems to be the general mechanism. Research in molecular aspects of this area is a challenge, especially in higher eukaryotes. Cis- and trans-factors, population behaviors of multigene families, the ways by which those families escape from concerted evolution, and exploiting concerted evolution are considered.

Canada, Gene mutations, Gene mutation, DNA repair, DNA damage, Cellular signal transduction, Physiological regulation, Biological control systems

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Insights from model systems: mice and the role of unequal recombination in gene-family evolution

Article Abstract:

Model systems involving mice can give insights in the role of unequal recombination in evolution of gene families. Molecular evolution is often thought to be terribly slow with mutation and natural selection and blank slates of DNA sequence turning into genes one nucleotide at a time. Actually evolution of genomes occurs in fits and starts as do those of species. Single unequal recombination events can dramatically increase the gene-copy number of a family. Gene-family evolution involves balance of various recombinational activities, gene conversion and unequal reciprocal recombination, especially. Major mouse-mutation programming are being set up as recognition that mutations are the most powerful tool for understanding the function of a gene in the whole organism grows and the transition to functional genomics takes place.

Usage, Genetic recombination, Yeast, Yeast (Food product), Biological models, Chemical evolution, Molecular evolution, Crossing over (Genetics)

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When less is more: gene loss as an engine of evolutionary change

Article Abstract:

Loss of gene function may be a common evolutionary response of populations in shifts in environment and such a loss may amount to a change in the selective pressure pattern. Less is often more relative to gene function, and adaptive loss of function may take place often and spread rapidly in small populations. Unfortunately little is known about the types of mutations that bring more fitness to a population, and to understand the biology of natural populations it is important to have testable ideas about types of mutation favored by evolution recently.

Physiological aspects, Adaptation (Biology), Evolutionary adaptation, Malaria, Human immunogenetics, Restriction enzymes, DNA, DNA restriction enzymes, Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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