Month: September 2022

HORIZONTAL GENE HIGHWAY. "Horizontal gene transfer is an important force modulating evolution in the prokaryotic world and the evolution of particular eukaryotes. Although gene exchange is easier in closely related organisms, horizontal gene transfer occurred between both domains in the evolution of Archaea and Bacteria." https://lnkd.in/eVQ_4UY View in LinkedIn

FUNCTIONAL MOBILE GENES. "Many animal genomes include bacterial and fungal genes acquired by horizontal gene transfer during evolution. Scanning the genomes of fruit flies, nematodes, primates, and humans, among other animals, researchers found evidence to suggest that some of these horizontally acquired genes may even be functional." https://lnkd.in/eaMwmW6 View in LinkedIn

UBIQUITOUS HORIZONTAL GENE TRANSFERS. "HGT is a widespread phenomenon for many organisms. Cases have been documented involving all possible pair-wise combinations and directions of transfer in the three domains of life plus viruses." https://lnkd.in/eXE-r93 View in LinkedIn

GENETIC LOOPHOLES. "The flow of genes across taxa through HGT is enabled by the existence of complex networks of loopholes across transfer barriers, often provided by a small fraction of the individuals in an otherwise inaccessible population." https://lnkd.in/eXE-r93 View in LinkedIn

HIGHLY PLASTIC NETWORKS. "HGT networks are fluid and highly evolvable, as is evidenced by the large intraspecific variability often observed in terms of the capacity of strains to donate or receive DNA by means of different mechanisms, and in the establishment of coevolutionary arms races among, particularly, bacteria and phage." (HGT, Horizontal Gene Transfer). https://lnkd.in/eXE-r93 View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE this weekend looks at the hierarchical levels of genetic control. Genes regulate the correct functions of cells through proteins. Genes are hierarchical, with clusters of genes being supervised by a higher-level master gene for that cluster; and further up the hierarchy, that master gene is regulated by another master gene, and the dance goes on. So far it is an emerging picture, far from complete. View in LinkedIn

NESTED HIERARCHIES. "A living system represents a hierarchy of nested structures and consists, at each level of hierarchy, of individuals, subjects (cells, organisms, groups)." Each level must have distinct but inter-related system master genetic controls. Ultimately, are organisms run by a committee of genes, or a single arbitrator in charge of them all? https://lnkd.in/e-VqAeg View in LinkedIn

TOP DOG(S). "The term “master regulator” or “master regulatory gene” was first coined by Susumu Ohno over 30 years ago for a “gene that occupies the very top of a regulatory hierarchy,” which, “by its very definition should not be under the regulatory influence of any other gene”. One, or many? https://lnkd.in/e2pTtBm View in LinkedIn

MASTER GENE REGULATOR. "Use of the term is increasing: Google Scholar identifies 139 publications containing the phrase “master regulator” from 1997 and slightly over 7,000 from 2012." https://lnkd.in/e2pTtBm View in LinkedIn

A MILLION ENHANCERS. "Transcription factors bind DNA regulatory elements called enhancers, which play key roles in the control of cell-type-specific gene expression programs. A typical mammalian cell contains thousands of active enhancers, and it has been estimated that there may be ∼1 million enhancers active in all human cells." https://lnkd.in/evThR6r View in LinkedIn