Rapid Evolution of Gained Essential Developmental Functions of a Young Gene via Interactions with Other Essential Genes.

ABSTRACT: New genes are of recent origin and only present in a subset of species in a phylogeny. Accumulated evidence suggests that new genes, like old genes that are conserved across species, can also take on important functions and be essential for the survival and reproductive success of organisms. Although there are detailed analyses of the mechanisms underlying new genes' gaining fertility functions, how new genes rapidly become essential for viability remains unclear. We focused on a young retro-duplicated gene (CG7804, which we named Cocoon) in Drosophila that originated between 4 and 10 Ma. We found that, unlike its evolutionarily conserved parental gene, Cocoon has evolved under positive selection and accumulated many amino acid differences at functional sites from the parental gene. Despit

SUBMITTER: Lee YCG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6759199 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature