Differential loss of embryonic globin genes during the radiation of placental mammals.

ABSTRACT: The differential gain and loss of genes from homologous gene families represents an important source of functional variation among the genomes of different species. Differences in gene content between species are primarily attributable to lineage-specific gene gains via duplication and lineage-specific losses via deletion or inactivation. Here, we use a comparative genomic approach to investigate this process of gene turnover in the beta-globin gene family of placental mammals. By analyzing genomic sequence data from representatives of each of the main superordinal clades of placental mammals, we were able to reconstruct pathways of gene family evolution during the basal radiation of this physiologically and morphologically diverse vertebrate group. Our analysis revealed that an initial ex

SUBMITTER: Opazo JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2529089 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature