Decode the gene of shoe sole

Thanks to the genetic decoding of shoe sole, a single-celled organism used as a model for biological research, French researchers have confirmed the importance of genome duplication for the evolution of animals. object.

The CNRS and Genoscope Center team decoded the DNA of the ciliated protozoa that found it contained up to 40,000 genes thanks to three replications, while humans had 25,000 to 30,000 genes.

It is thought that an organism duplicates the number of genes capable of innovating, adapting to new conditions and diversifying itself. Two researchers Jean Cohen and Patrick Wincker confirmed this by soles of the sole: the timing of duplicating its last genome is equivalent to the appearance of 15 species of twins.

Shoe sole is the first protozoan to be observed under a microscope and is still considered a priority laboratory template for studying cell organization and heredity.

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