PUBLICATION
The genetic factors of bilaterian evolution
- Authors
- Heger, P., Zheng, W., Rottmann, A., Panfilio, K.A., Wiehe, T.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-200717-11
- Date
- 2020
- Source
- eLIFE 9: (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- D. melanogaster, evolutionary biology, genetics, genomics, human, mouse, zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Biological Evolution*
- Evolution, Molecular
- Genome*
- Genomics
- Invertebrates/classification
- Invertebrates/genetics*
- Phylogeny
- Vertebrates/classification
- Vertebrates/genetics*
- PubMed
- 32672535 Full text @ Elife
Citation
Heger, P., Zheng, W., Rottmann, A., Panfilio, K.A., Wiehe, T. (2020) The genetic factors of bilaterian evolution. eLIFE. 9:.
Abstract
The Cambrian explosion was a unique animal radiation ~540 million years ago that produced the full range of body plans across bilaterians. The genetic mechanisms underlying these events are unknown, leaving a fundamental question in evolutionary biology unanswered. Using large-scale comparative genomics and advanced orthology evaluation techniques, we identified 157 bilaterian-specific genes. They include the entire Nodal pathway, a key regulator of mesoderm development and left-right axis specification; components for nervous system development, including a suite of G protein-coupled receptors that control physiology and behaviour, the Robo-Slit midline repulsion system, and the neurotrophin signalling system; a high number of zinc finger transcription factors; and novel factors that previously escaped attention. Contradicting the current view, our study reveals that genes with bilaterian origin are robustly associated with key features in extant bilaterians, suggesting a causal relationship.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping