Detecting strange genes helps discover what makes people different

Humans and chimpanzees have many similarities and genes, however, it is not difficult to distinguish these two species from each other. The results of the new study published on the online Genome Research site have revealed evolutionary genes on the human body after humanity separated from the primates, developing into a separate branch, thereby bringing about the possibility. discovering what decided the human species became a separate species.

The common knowledge in the field of molecular evolution is that genes can only evolve from replicated or rearranged versions of previously existing genes. It is almost entirely certain that evolutionary processes can produce a gene that encodes proteins from a previously inactive DNA.

However, recent evidence shows that this phenomenon actually exists. Researchers have found genes that are generated from non-coding DNA in flies, yeast and primates. So far, no such gene has been found in humans, and this discovery has raised interesting questions about how these genes can make us completely different from those of humans. Other primates.

In this study, David Knowles and Aoife McLysaght from the Smurfit Genome Institute at Trinity University, Dublin City have undertaken a difficult task of finding the genes that encode proteins in the human genome but do not have face in chimpanzee genome. After they have done a thorough search and removed the wrong results, the list of potential genes remains only 3. Go to the next challenge.'We have to prove that DNA in humans really works as a gene,' McLysaght said.

A small chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) with a trainer looks directly at each other. (Photo: iStockphoto / Warwick Lister-Kaye)

The authors collected evidence from other studies to demonstrate that these three genes are actively transcribed and converted into proteins. At the same time, they need to prove that in other primates, the corresponding DNA sequences do not work. Through research, they found that in some gibbons and monkeys, these DNA sequences contain different characteristics that tend to disrupt the ability of a protein-coding gene.This suggests that these genes did not work in common ancestors.

The authors also note that due to strict filter activity, only about 20% of human genes match the criteria of the subject of analysis. Therefore, they estimate that there are about 18 unique genes in humans born from non-coding DNA during human evolution.

The discovery of strange genes encoding proteins in humans is an important finding, but it raises a bigger question: what are the proteins encoded by these genes doing?'They are unlike any other human gene and they most likely play a key role,' McLysaght said. While these genes have not yet been described in detail and their functions are still mysterious, McLysaght maintains that these specific genes play an important role in the different characteristics of humans.

Journal reference:
1. Knowles DG, McLysaght A. Recent de novo origin of human protein-coding genes.Genome Research, 2009;DOI: 10.1101 / gr.095026.109