Positive selection, relaxation, and acceleration in the evolution of the human and chimp genome.

ABSTRACT: For years evolutionary biologists have been interested in searching for the genetic bases underlying humanness. Recent efforts at a large or a complete genomic scale have been conducted to search for positively selected genes in human and in chimp. However, recently developed methods allowing for a more sensitive and controlled approach in the detection of positive selection can be employed. Here, using 13,198 genes, we have deduced the sets of genes involved in rate acceleration, positive selection, and relaxation of selective constraints in human, in chimp, and in their ancestral lineage since the divergence from murids. Significant deviations from the strict molecular clock were observed in 469 human and in 651 chimp genes. The more stringent branch-site test of positive selection detec

SUBMITTER: Arbiza L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1447656 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature