An evolutionary genomic approach to identify genes involved in human birth timing.

ABSTRACT: Coordination of fetal maturation with birth timing is essential for mammalian reproduction. In humans, preterm birth is a disorder of profound global health significance. The signals initiating parturition in humans have remained elusive, due to divergence in physiological mechanisms between humans and model organisms typically studied. Because of relatively large human head size and narrow birth canal cross-sectional area compared to other primates, we hypothesized that genes involved in parturition would display accelerated evolution along the human and/or higher primate phylogenetic lineages to decrease the length of gestation and promote delivery of a smaller fetus that transits the birth canal more readily. Further, we tested whether current variation in such accelerated genes contrib

SUBMITTER: Plunkett J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3077368 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature