Retrocopy contributions to the evolution of the human genome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evolution via point mutations is a relatively slow process and is unlikely to completely explain the differences between primates and other mammals. By contrast, 45% of the human genome is composed of retroposed elements, many of which were inserted in the primate lineage. A subset of retroposed mRNAs (retrocopies) shows strong evidence of expression in primates, often yielding functional retrogenes.

Results

To identify and analyze the relatively recently evolved retrogenes, we carried out BLASTZ alignments of all human mRNAs against the human genome and scored a set of features indicative of retroposition. Of over 12,000 putative retrocopy-derived genes that arose mainly in the primate lineage, 726 with strong evidence of transcript expression were examined in de

SUBMITTER: Baertsch R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2584115 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature