Insights into body size variation in cetaceans from the evolution of body-size-related genes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cetaceans exhibit an exceptionally wide range of body size, yet in this regard, their genetic basis remains poorly explored. In this study, 20 body-size-related genes for which duplication, mutation, or deficiency can cause body size change in mammals were chosen to preliminarily investigate the evolutionary mechanisms underlying the dramatic body size variation in cetaceans.

Results

We successfully sequenced 20 body-size-related genes in six representative species of cetaceans. A total of 46 codons from 10 genes were detected and determined to be under strong positive selection, 32 (69.6%) of which were further found to be under radical physiochemical changes; moreover, some of these sites were localized in or near important functional regions. Interestingly, pos

SUBMITTER: Sun Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6660953 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature