November 18, 2007
The road to modularity.
Publication Date: 2007 Dec PMID: 18007649
Authors: Wagner, G. P. - Pavlicev, M. - Cheverud, J. M.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet
A network of interactions is called modular if it is subdivided into relatively autonomous, internally highly connected components. Modularity has emerged as a rallying point for research in developmental and evolutionary biology (and specifically evo-devo), as well as in molecular systems biology. Here we review the evidence for modularity and models about its origin. Although there is an emerging agreement that organisms have a modular organization, the main open problem is the question of whether modules arise through the action of natural selection or because of biased mutational mechanisms.
MeSH Categories: Animals, Biodiversity, *Developmental Biology, *Evolution, Molecular, Fossils, Gene Duplication, Genes, Genetics, Population, Variation (Genetics)
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Authors: Wagner, G. P. - Pavlicev, M. - Cheverud, J. M.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet
A network of interactions is called modular if it is subdivided into relatively autonomous, internally highly connected components. Modularity has emerged as a rallying point for research in developmental and evolutionary biology (and specifically evo-devo), as well as in molecular systems biology. Here we review the evidence for modularity and models about its origin. Although there is an emerging agreement that organisms have a modular organization, the main open problem is the question of whether modules arise through the action of natural selection or because of biased mutational mechanisms.
MeSH Categories: Animals, Biodiversity, *Developmental Biology, *Evolution, Molecular, Fossils, Gene Duplication, Genes, Genetics, Population, Variation (Genetics)
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Filed under Genetics Publications by Nature Reviews Genetics
Publication Date: 2007 Dec PMID: 18007651
Authors: Ferguson-Smith, M. A. - Trifonov, V.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet
The chromosome complements (karyotypes) of animals display a great diversity in number and morphology. Against this background, the genomes of all species are remarkably conserved, not only in transcribed sequences, but also in some chromosome-specific non-coding sequences and in gene order. A close examination with chromosome painting shows that this conservation can be resolved into small numbers of large chromosomal segments. Rearrangement of these segments into different combinations explains much of the observed diversity in species karyotypes. Here we discuss how these rearrangements come about, and show how their analysis can determine the evolutionary relationships of all mammals and their descent from a common ancestor.
MeSH Categories: Animals, *Chromosome Banding, *Chromosome Mapping, *Evolution, Gene Rearrangement, *Karyotyping, Phylogeny
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Authors: Ferguson-Smith, M. A. - Trifonov, V.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet
The chromosome complements (karyotypes) of animals display a great diversity in number and morphology. Against this background, the genomes of all species are remarkably conserved, not only in transcribed sequences, but also in some chromosome-specific non-coding sequences and in gene order. A close examination with chromosome painting shows that this conservation can be resolved into small numbers of large chromosomal segments. Rearrangement of these segments into different combinations explains much of the observed diversity in species karyotypes. Here we discuss how these rearrangements come about, and show how their analysis can determine the evolutionary relationships of all mammals and their descent from a common ancestor.
MeSH Categories: Animals, *Chromosome Banding, *Chromosome Mapping, *Evolution, Gene Rearrangement, *Karyotyping, Phylogeny
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Filed under Genetics Publications by Nature Reviews Genetics
Publication Date: 2007 Dec PMID: 18007650
Authors: Canestro, C. - Yokoi, H. - Postlethwait, J. H.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet
Reciprocal questions often frame studies of the evolution of developmental mechanisms. How can species share similar developmental genetic toolkits but still generate diverse life forms? Conversely, how can similar forms develop from different toolkits? Genomics bridges the gap between evolutionary and developmental biology, and can help answer these evo-devo questions in several ways. First, it informs us about historical relationships, thus orienting the direction of evolutionary diversification. Second, genomics lists all toolkit components, thereby revealing contraction and expansion of the genome and suggesting mechanisms for evolution of both developmental functions and genome architecture. Finally, comparative genomics helps us to identify conserved non-coding elements and their relationship to genome architecture and development.
MeSH Categories: Animals, *Developmental Biology, *Evolution, Molecular, Genes/*physiology, Genetics, Population, Genome, *Genomics, Humans, Selection (Genetics), Variation (Genetics)
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Authors: Canestro, C. - Yokoi, H. - Postlethwait, J. H.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet
Reciprocal questions often frame studies of the evolution of developmental mechanisms. How can species share similar developmental genetic toolkits but still generate diverse life forms? Conversely, how can similar forms develop from different toolkits? Genomics bridges the gap between evolutionary and developmental biology, and can help answer these evo-devo questions in several ways. First, it informs us about historical relationships, thus orienting the direction of evolutionary diversification. Second, genomics lists all toolkit components, thereby revealing contraction and expansion of the genome and suggesting mechanisms for evolution of both developmental functions and genome architecture. Finally, comparative genomics helps us to identify conserved non-coding elements and their relationship to genome architecture and development.
MeSH Categories: Animals, *Developmental Biology, *Evolution, Molecular, Genes/*physiology, Genetics, Population, Genome, *Genomics, Humans, Selection (Genetics), Variation (Genetics)
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Filed under Genetics Publications by Nature Reviews Genetics
Publication Date: 2007 Dec PMID: 18007652
Authors: Robinson, G. W.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet
Mammary glands become functional only in adult life but their development starts in the embryo. Initiation of the epithelial bud and ductal outgrowth are coordinated through short-range signals between epithelium and mesenchyme. Studies of natural and induced mouse mutants in which early mammary development is perturbed have identified genetic networks that regulate specific steps in these processes. Some of these signals contribute to aberrant mammary development in humans and are deregulated in cancer.
MeSH Categories: Animals, Basement Membrane, Cell Differentiation, Embryo, Mammalian/*metabolism, Epithelial Cells/metabolism, Mammary Glands, Animal/*embryology/growth & development/metabolism, Mice, *Signal Transduction, Stromal Cells/*physiology
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Authors: Robinson, G. W.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet
Mammary glands become functional only in adult life but their development starts in the embryo. Initiation of the epithelial bud and ductal outgrowth are coordinated through short-range signals between epithelium and mesenchyme. Studies of natural and induced mouse mutants in which early mammary development is perturbed have identified genetic networks that regulate specific steps in these processes. Some of these signals contribute to aberrant mammary development in humans and are deregulated in cancer.
MeSH Categories: Animals, Basement Membrane, Cell Differentiation, Embryo, Mammalian/*metabolism, Epithelial Cells/metabolism, Mammary Glands, Animal/*embryology/growth & development/metabolism, Mice, *Signal Transduction, Stromal Cells/*physiology
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Filed under Genetics Publications by Nature Reviews Genetics