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Gene co-option

Gene co-option. the process by which a trait/gene changes function; the gene has been co-opted to do a new job. Gene Co-option. Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics. Epigenetics turns on/off genes. http://cnx.org/content/m26565/latest/graphics35.jpg.

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Gene co-option

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  1. Gene co-option • the process by which a trait/gene changes function; the gene has been • co-opted to do a new job

  2. Gene Co-option

  3. Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics

  4. Epigenetics turns on/off genes http://cnx.org/content/m26565/latest/graphics35.jpg

  5. Epigenetic patterns are heritable, but can be changed by the environment more easily than can genes Jirtle and Skinner, 2007, Nature Reviews Genetics

  6. Epigenetics and behavior http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/rats/

  7. What explains Darwin’s finches?

  8. Darwin’s finches Patel, 2006, Nature, 442:515-516

  9. The BMP4 GeneSame protein Different mRNA levels in different species

  10. A second gene… CaM Beak morphology is skeletal and related to differences in CaM expression during development Abzhanov et al., 2006, Nature, 442:563-567

  11. Up or down regulation of two genes can create a wide variety of 3-D shape Abzhanov et al., 2006, Nature, 442:563-567

  12. What explains Darwin’s finches? • Difference in gene expression (high, moderate, or low) for two genes. What are the possible mechanisms? • Switch? • Gene duplication? • Epigenetics?

  13. Which do you think is more likely?

  14. Mutations are accidents within the cell during DNA replication and during meiosis • These mutations happen with no regard to what is happening to the organism or to what the organism needs… • That doesn’t mean that some mutations aren’t lucky! • Mutation creates new alleles that can be selected for or against

  15. Mutation is important in evolution because it is THE source of new alleles

  16. Gene Poolall of the alleles in all of the gametes of the population • Concept works for sexual reproducers • Alleles can unite randomly (as if swimming), or they can unite non-randomly if there is mating preference

  17. Dawkins on “Gene Pools”“The very idea of a gene pool has no meaning if there is no sex. 'Gene Pool’ is a persuasive metaphor because the genes of a sexual population are being continually mixed and diffused, as if in a liquid.

  18. -Richard Dawkins,The Ancestor's Tale , page 432 Bring in the time dimension, and the pool becomes a river, flowing through geological time..."

  19. Natural Selection

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