Convergent evolution in high-altitude and marine mammals: Molecular adaptations to pulmonary fibrosis and hypoxia.

ABSTRACT: High-altitude and marine mammals inhabit distinct ecosystems but share a common challenge: hypoxia. To survive in low-oxygen environments, these species have evolved similar phenotypic pulmonary adaptations, characterized by a high density of elastic fibers. In this study, we explored the molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations, focusing on pulmonary fibrosis and hypoxia tolerance through comparative genomics and convergent evolution analyses. We observed significant expansions and contractions in certain gene families across both high-altitude and marine mammals, closely associated with processes involved in pulmonary fibrosis. Notably, members of the keratin gene family, such as KRT17 and KRT14, appear to be associated with the development of the dense elastic fib

SUBMITTER: Guo BX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11668944 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature