Genomic analyses of new genes and their phenotypic effects reveal rapid evolution of essential functions in Drosophila development.

ABSTRACT: It is a conventionally held dogma that the genetic basis underlying development is conserved in a long evolutionary time scale. Ample experiments based on mutational, biochemical, functional, and complementary knockdown/knockout approaches have revealed the unexpectedly important role of recently evolved new genes in the development of Drosophila. The recent progress in the genome-wide experimental testing of gene effects and improvements in the computational identification of new genes (< 40 million years ago, Mya) open the door to investigate the evolution of gene essentiality with a phylogenetically high resolution. These advancements also raised interesting issues in techniques and concepts related to phenotypic effect analyses of genes, particularly of those that recently originated.

SUBMITTER: Xia S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8270118 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature