Project description:This GEO submission accompanies the RNA-seq data of human-chimp and human-gorilla hybrid cells in the study “The Gene Regulatory Evolution of the Human Skeleton”. Changes in gene regulation are key drivers of human evolution. However, which regulatory changes shaped human adaptations, and especially how, remains largely unknown. Skeletal alterations have been particularly central in human evolution, facilitating upright locomotion and large brains, and influencing child- birth and our distinctive faces. Here, we generated human-chimp and human-gorilla hybrid osteochondral progenitor cells to study the cis-regulatory expression changes that distinguish humans from other great apes. We identified 4152 chimpanzee-specific, and 4463 human-specific cis-regulatory expression changes.

2026-04-28 | GSE316892 | GEO

The Gene Regulatory Evolution of the Human Skeleton (Massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA))

Project description:This GEO submission accompanies the massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) data in the study “The Gene Regulatory Evolution of the Human Skeleton”. Changes in gene regulation are key drivers of human evolution. However, which regulatory changes shaped human adaptations, and especially how, remains largely unknown. Skeletal alterations have been particularly central in human evolution, facilitating upright locomotion and large brains, and influencing child- birth and our distinctive faces. Here, we employed MPRAs in key skeletal cells - chondrocytes - to uncover the functional role of the 574,290 enhancer and promoter substitutions that distinguish humans from their ape relatives. Using this atlas, we identified 15,077 sequences whose activity has diverged since our split from chimpanzees.

2026-04-28 | GSE316891 | GEO

The Gene Regulatory Evolution of the Human Skeleton (human-chimp and human-gorilla hybrid cells)

Project description:The Gene Regulatory Evolution of the Human Skeleton (human-chimp and human-gorilla hybrid cells)

| PRJNA1405491 | ENA

The Gene Regulatory Evolution of the Human Skeleton (Massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA))

Project description:The Gene Regulatory Evolution of the Human Skeleton (Massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA))

| PRJNA1405493 | ENA

Evolution of the human autopod skeleton

Project description:We investigate the genetic architecture of autopod development at the regulatory and transcriptomic level.

2025-08-20 | GSE281502 | GEO

Proteomic profiling of black coral (Antipatharia) skeleton reveals hundreds of skeleton-associated proteins across two taxa

Project description:Black corals, ecologically important cnidarians found from shallow to deep ocean depths, form a strong yet flexible skeleton of sclerotized chitin and other biomolecules including proteins. The structure and mechanical properties of the chitin component of the skeleton have been well-characterized. However, the protein component has remained a mystery. Here we used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to sequence proteins extracted from two species of common Red Sea black corals following either one or two cleaning steps. We detected hundreds of proteins between the two corals, nearly 70 of which are each others’ reciprocal best BLAST hit. Unlike stony corals, only a few of the detected proteins were moderately acidic (biased toward aspartic and/or glutamic acid residues) suggesting less of a role for these types of proteins in black coral skeleton formation as compared to stony corals. No distinct chitin binding domains were found in the proteins, but proteins annotated as having a role in protein and chitin modifications were detected. Our results support the integral role of proteins in black coral skeleton formation, structure, and function.

2022-06-05 | PXD032043 | Pride

Evolution of the human autopod skeleton [ATAC-seq]

Project description:We investigate the genetic architecture of autopod development at the regulatory and transcriptomic level.

2025-08-20 | GSE283854 | GEO