 |
|
Evolving complexity out of 'junk DNA'
February 12, 2008The study, published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, claims to have solved this scientific riddle by analysing the genomics of primitive living fishes such as sharks and lampreys and their spineless relatives, such as the sea squirts.
Vertebrates - animals such as humans that possess a backbone - are the most anatomically and genetically complex of all organisms, but explaining how they achieved this complexity has vexed scientists since the conception of evolutionary theory.
Alysha Heimberg of Dartmouth College and her colleagues showed that microRNAs, a class of tiny molecules only recently discovered residing within what has usually been considered 'junk DNA', are hugely diverse in even the most lowly of vertebrates, but relatively few are found in the genomes of our invertebrate relatives.
She explained: "There was an explosive increase in the number of new microRNAs added to the genome of vertebrates and this is unparalleled in evolutionary history."
Co-author, Dr Philip Donoghue of Bristol University's Department of Earth Sciences continued: "Most of these new genes are required for the growth of organs that are unique to vertebrates, such as the liver, pancreas and brain. Therefore, the origin of vertebrates and the origin of these genes is no coincidence."
Dr Kevin Peterson of Dartmouth College said: "This study not only points the way to understanding the evolutionary origin of our own lineage, but it also helps us to understand how our own genome was assembled in deep time."
University of Bristol
She explained: "There was an explosive increase in the number of new microRNAs added to the genome of vertebrates and this is unparalleled in evolutionary history."
Co-author, Dr Philip Donoghue of Bristol University's Department of Earth Sciences continued: "Most of these new genes are required for the growth of organs that are unique to vertebrates, such as the liver, pancreas and brain. Therefore, the origin of vertebrates and the origin of these genes is no coincidence."
Dr Kevin Peterson of Dartmouth College said: "This study not only points the way to understanding the evolutionary origin of our own lineage, but it also helps us to understand how our own genome was assembled in deep time."
University of Bristol
Genomics Current Events and Genomics News RSSScientists at UA, collaborating institutions decode maize genome
Scientists from the University of Arizona led by Arizona Genomics Institute director Rod A. Wing and from collaborating institutions have deciphered the complete genetic code of the maize plant for the first time.
Cigarettes Harbor Many Bacteria Harmful to Human Health
Cigarettes are "widely contaminated" with bacteria, including some known to cause disease in people, concludes a new international study conducted by a University of Maryland environmental health researcher and microbial ecologists at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France.
Unknowlingly consuming endangered tuna
While most of us would never willingly consume a highly endangered species, doing so might be as easy as plucking sushi from a bento box.
Maize cell wall genes identified, giving boost to biofuel research
Purdue University scientists have helped identify and group the genes thought to be responsible for cell wall development in maize, an effort that expands their ability to discover ways to produce the biomass best suited for biofuels production.
Protein changes in heart strengthen link between Alzheimer's disease and chronic heart failure
A team of U.S., Canadian and Italian scientists led by researchers at Johns Hopkins report evidence from studies in animals and humans supporting a link between Alzheimer's disease and chronic heart failure, two of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States.
Largest gene study of childhood IBD identifies 5 new genes
In the largest, most comprehensive genetic analysis of childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an international research team has identified five new gene regions, including one involved in a biological pathway that helps drive the painful inflammation of the digestive tract that characterizes the disease.
Pathogen protection and virulence: Dark side of fungal membrane protein revealed
Researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech and Montana State University have discovered a fungal protein that plays a key role in causing disease in plants and animals and which also shields the pathogen from oxidative stress.
Study sheds light on evolution of human complexity
A painstaking analysis of thousands of genes and the proteins they encode shows that human beings are biologically complex, at least in part, because of the way humans evolved to cope with redundancies arising from duplicate genes.
TGen seeks emergency FDA approval of new swine flu test
The Phoenix-based non-profit Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) announced today that, along with a business collaborator, it will submit a request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use of a new test to diagnose the 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus.
Will genomics help prevent the next pandemic?
This week, the Public Library of Science, an open-access publisher, presents the "Genomics of Emerging Infectious Disease," a collection of essays, perspectives, and reviews that explores how genomics-with all its associated tools and techniques-can provide insights into our understanding of emerging infectious disease.
More Genomics Current Events and Genomics News Articles
 |
Introduction to Genomics by Arthur Lesk (Author) Our genome is the blueprint to our existence: it encodes all the information we need to develop from a single cell into a hugely complicated functional organism. But it is more than a static information store: our genome is a dynamic, tightly-regulated collection of genes, which switch on and off in many combinations to give the variety of cells from which our bodies are formed. But how do we identify the genes that make up our genome? How do we determine their function? And how do different genes form the regulatory networks that direct the process of life? Introduction to Genomics is a fascinating insight into what can be revealed from the study of genomics: how organisms differ or match; how different organisms evolved; how the genome is constructed and how it operates; and what... |
 |
Essentials of Medical Genomics by Stuart M. Brown (Author), John G. Hay (Author), Harry Ostrer (Author) Six new chapters on vital topics of interest such as multilocus SNP genotyping (SNP chips), RNAi, ChIP-chip, and genomic tiling arrays New edition responds to reviewers' and users' desire for greater coverage—now the most useful handbook on the market! Practical, concise summary of everything about genomics and emerging technologies a busy physician or medical student should know Covers concepts and techniques that are in use in medicine now, as well as those on the cutting-edge of science relevant to medicine, from bioinformatics to DNA diagnostics and proteomics NEW: Includes chapter-end exercises, enhancing the utility of the new edition as a textbook NEW: PowerPoint slides of images available at instructor website ... |
 |
Introduction to Computational Genomics: A Case Studies Approach by Nello Cristianini (Author), Matthew W. Hahn (Author) Where did SARS come from? Have we inherited genes from Neanderthals? How do plants use their internal clock? The genomic revolution in biology enables us to answer such questions. But the revolution would have been impossible without the support of powerful computational and statistical methods that enable us to exploit genomic data. Many universities are introducing courses to train the next generation of bioinformaticians: biologists fluent in mathematics and computer science, and data analysts familiar with biology. This readable and entertaining book, based on successful taught courses, provides a roadmap to navigate entry to this field. It guides the reader through key achievements of bioinformatics, using a hands-on approach. Statistical sequence analysis, sequence alignment, hidden... |
 |
Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics by Jonathan Pevsner (Author) The bestselling introduction to bioinformatics and functional genomics—now in an updated edition Widely received in its previous edition, Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics offers the most broad-based introduction to this explosive new discipline. Now in a thoroughly updated and expanded Second Edition, it continues to be the go-to source for students and professionals involved in biomedical research. This edition provides up-to-the-minute coverage of the fields of bioinformatics and genomics. Features new to this edition include: Several fundamentally important proteins, such as globins, histones, insulin, and albumins, are included to better show how to apply bioinformatics tools to basic biological questions. A completely updated companion... |
 |
The Genomics Age: How DNA Technology Is Transforming the Way We Live and Who We Are by Gina Smith (Author) In the history of mankind, few scientific phenomena have so profoundly changed the human experience as will the revolution in the use of DNA technology. Entertaining, informative, and written in plain English, The Genomics Age explores how recent leaps in the understanding of DNA offer astounding scientific promises -- and pose complex ethical issues. The Genomics Age probes the fundamental questions borne of advances in applied DNA science: Can we finally conquer cancer -- once and for all? Will we ever bridge the ideological and political divides in the stem cell debate? Does the rush to develop anti-aging drugs mean we are on the verge of finding the fountain of youth? As we genetically eliminate disease and pick and choose the attributes of our children, will knowing the code... |
|
Cancer Genomics & Proteomics by Iiar % Dr John G Delinassios Cancer Genomics & Proteomics is an international, bimonthly journal devoted to the publication of original high quality articles and reviews on the applications of genomic and proteomic technology to basic, experimental, and clinical cancer research. | |
 |
Discovering Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics (2nd Edition) by A. Malcolm Campbell (Author), Laurie J. Heyer (Author) KEY BENEFIT: Discovering Genomics is the first genomics text that combines web activities and case studies with a problem-solving approach to teach upper-level undergraduates and first-year graduate students the fundamentals of genomic analysis. More of a workbook than a traditional text, Discovering Genomics, Second Edition allows students to work with real genomic data in solving problems and provides the user with an active learning experience. KEY TOPICS: Genomic Medicine Case Study: What’s wrong with my child? Genome Sequence Acquisition and Analysis, Comparative Genomics in Evolution and Medicine, Genome Variations, Genomic Medicine Case Study: Why Can’t I Just Take a Pill to Lose Weight? Basic Research with DNA Microarrays,... |
 |
2008 Global Conference: Mind If We Get Personal? The Role of Genomics in Your Life Medicine is getting personal with the advent of genetics-based diagnostics, treatments and prognoses. But some ethicists and clinicians think it is getting too personal too soon. They question whether even the best of the current genetic tests are ready for use on patients, and whether the patients are ready for the information they might learn. But companies are already offering a host of new tests to the public, bypassing the usual medical and ethical intermediaries. To discuss these issues, the 2008 Milken Institute Global Conference brought together a panel of experts, including acclaimed scientist Craig Venter. Genetic information will become integrated into our daily lives, but are we ready? This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard... |
 |
Adaptive Complexity by Scientific Blogging Welcome to Adaptive Complexity, where I write about genomics, systems biology, evolution, and the connection between science and literature, government, and society. I'm a biochemist and a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Genetics and the Center for Genome Sciences at the Washington University School of Medicine. In the lab I use the tools of yeast genetics, genomics, and biochemistry to study gene regulation during the cell division cycle.Kindle blogs are fully downloaded onto your Kindle so you can read them even when you're not wirelessly connected. And unlike RSS readers which often only provide headlines, blogs on Kindle give you full text content and images, and are updated wirelessly throughout the day. |
|
Essential Genetics: A Genomics Perspective 3rd Edition by Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. (Publisher) |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |