* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Why the long neck?
Therapeutic gene modulation wikipedia , lookup
Gene desert wikipedia , lookup
Genomic library wikipedia , lookup
Point mutation wikipedia , lookup
Transposable element wikipedia , lookup
History of genetic engineering wikipedia , lookup
Oncogenomics wikipedia , lookup
Epigenetics of neurodegenerative diseases wikipedia , lookup
Polycomb Group Proteins and Cancer wikipedia , lookup
Essential gene wikipedia , lookup
Long non-coding RNA wikipedia , lookup
Nutriepigenomics wikipedia , lookup
Public health genomics wikipedia , lookup
Quantitative trait locus wikipedia , lookup
Non-coding DNA wikipedia , lookup
Designer baby wikipedia , lookup
Human genome wikipedia , lookup
Gene expression programming wikipedia , lookup
Microevolution wikipedia , lookup
Site-specific recombinase technology wikipedia , lookup
Metagenomics wikipedia , lookup
Artificial gene synthesis wikipedia , lookup
Genome (book) wikipedia , lookup
Pathogenomics wikipedia , lookup
Genomic imprinting wikipedia , lookup
Epigenetics of human development wikipedia , lookup
Ridge (biology) wikipedia , lookup
Biology and consumer behaviour wikipedia , lookup
Minimal genome wikipedia , lookup
Please direct newsletter questions and comments to: [email protected] NEWSLETTER September 19, 2016 Volume 11, Issue 3 Why the long neck? Species: Okapi johnstoni and Giraffa camelopardalis Genome size: 3.3 billion and 2.9 billion bases, respectively The genomes of the only two extant members of the Giraffidae family—the okapi (Okapi johnstoni) and the giraffe (subspecies Giraffa camelopardalis, tippelskirchi)—have been sequenced for the first time, according to a paper published today (May 17) in Nature Communications. The sequences are likely to help explain the giraffe’s unique look. “Through comparative analysis with other eutherians mammals, 70 genes were identified that exhibit multiple signs of adaptation in giraffe,” the authors wrote in their paper. “Several of these genes encode well-known regulators of skeletal, cardiovascular and neural development, and are likely to contribute to giraffe’s unique characteristics.” By aligning the new sequences to known sequences in cattle (Bos taurus), the team of researchers from Tanzania, Kenya, the U.K., and the U.S. came up with a list of 17,210 giraffe and 17,048 okapi genes. Comparing those sequences, the team found that the giraffe’s long neck is likely a result of mutations in two sets of protein-coding genes—one controlling gene expression patterns during limb development, the other controlling the expression of growth factors. The researchers also linked a number of genes in giraffes to the evolution of a more powerful cardiovascular system to cope with the strain of a longer neck. “Among mammals, giraffe has some of the most challenging physiological and structural problems imposed by its towering height,” the authors wrote in their paper. “The solutions to these challenges, in particular related to its turbocharged circulatory system, may be instructive for treatment of cardiovascular disease and hypertension in humans.” Wake up with determination . Go to bed with satisfaction .