basic
- Evolution, generated in part by natural selection, has gradually transformed us into our current state and continues to cause changes in our DNA.
- Certain traits created by genetic mutations help an organism to survive or reproduce.
- When the transmission potential of these mutations increases, so does their frequency.
An international team of scientists has identified 155 “microgenes” that arose spontaneously within the human lineage from small fragments of DNA since Homo sapiens split with our ancestors. Some of them have ancient mammalian origins and others are linked to diseases specific to humans that we experienced in the past. study them, Published in the journal Cell Reportsopens the door to a more detailed exploration of the effects of genes on the body.
An ancestral tree to better understand the evolution of our genes
Taking the data set from previous studies, the researchers created an ancestral tree that compares Homo sapiens to other vertebrate species. showed that some genes emerged from scratch and did not arise from duplication events that were already present in the genome of early Homo sapiens.
“This project started in 2017 because I was interested in the evolution of new genes and in understanding the origin of these genes”says first author Nikolaos Vakirlis, a scientist at the Alexander Fleming Research Center for Biomedical Sciences, V communication.
Some genes result from diseases that are unique to humans
The results of their analyzes show that of these 155 novel genes, 44 are associated with developmental defects in cell cultures, demonstrating the importance of these genes in maintaining a healthy, healthy organism. Three more are associated with diseases unique to humans. She had two DNA markers that suggest links with muscular dystrophy and retinitis pigmentosa, which leads to vision loss. The other contained a form of the chemical linked to an increased risk of dwarfism (Alazmi syndrome).
In addition to the diseases, the researchers also discovered a new gene associated with human heart tissue. This gene appeared in humans and chimpanzees right after the split with gorillas and shows how quickly the gene evolved to become essential to the body. “It will be very interesting in future studies to understand what these microgens might be doing and whether they are directly involved in any kind of disease.”Dr. Vackerlis confirms.
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