Gene expression phylogenies and ancestral transcriptome reconstruction resolves major transitions in the origins of pregnancy.

ABSTRACT: Structural and physiological changes in the female reproductive system underlie the origins of pregnancy in multiple vertebrate lineages. In mammals, the glandular portion of the lower reproductive tract has transformed into a structure specialized for supporting fetal development. These specializations range from relatively simple maternal nutrient provisioning in egg-laying monotremes to an elaborate suite of traits that support intimate maternal-fetal interactions in Eutherians. Among these traits are the maternal decidua and fetal component of the placenta, but there is considerable uncertainty about how these structures evolved. Previously, we showed that changes in uterine gene expression contributes to several evolutionary innovations during the origins of pregnancy (Mika et al., 20

SUBMITTER: Mika K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9275820 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature