Climate-driven range expansion and morphological evolution in a marine gastropod

Little is known about the phenotypic consequences of global climate change, despite the excellent Pleistocene fossil record of many taxa. We used morphological measurements from extant and Pleistocene populations of a marine gastropod (Acanthinucella spirata) in conjunction with mitochondrial DNA sequence variation from living populations to determine how populations responded phenotypically to Pleistocene climatic changes. Northern populations show little sequence variation as compared to southern populations, a pattern consistent with a recent northward range expansion. These recently recolonized northern populations also contain shell morphologies that are absent in extant southern populations and throughout the Pleistocene fossil record. Thus, contrary to traditional expectations that morphological evolution should occur largely within Pleistocene refugia, our data show that geographical range shifts in response to climatic change can lead to significant morphological evolution.     

Rates of evolution in ancient DNA from Adélie penguins

Well-preserved subfossil bones of Adélie penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae, underlie existing and abandoned nesting colonies in Antarctica. These bones, dating back to more than 7000 years before the present, harbor some of the best-preserved ancient DNA yet discovered. From 96 radiocarbon-aged bones, we report large numbers of mitochondrial haplotypes, some of which appear to be extinct, given the 380 living birds sampled. We demonstrate DNA sequence evolution through time and estimate the rate of evolution of the hypervariable region I using a Markov chain Monte Carlo integration and a least-squares regression analysis. Our calculated rates of evolution are approximately two to seven times higher than previous indirect phylogenetic estimates.     

Comparison of fine-scale recombination rates in humans and chimpanzees

We compared fine-scale recombination rates at orthologous loci in humans and chimpanzees by analyzing polymorphism data in both species. Strong statistical evidence for hotspots of recombination was obtained in both species. Despite approximately 99% identity at the level of DNA sequence, however, recombination hotspots were found rarely (if at all) at the same positions in the two species, and no correlation was observed in estimates of fine-scale recombination rates. Thus, local patterns of recombination rate have evolved rapidly, in a manner disproportionate to the change in DNA sequence.     

DNA分子进化研究进展

分子进化和重组技术在蛋白质体外进化工程中占据着越来越重要的地位,它可以对单一基因、质粒、代谢途径、部分甚至整个基因组进行改造,从而在较短时间内获得漫长自然进化过程无法得到的具有特定性质的基因、蛋白质甚至物种。文章通过综合概括各种DNA分子进化技术的原理、特点,并介绍这些技术的应用研究进展以及最新研究方向,促进其在提高酶活性、蛋白质产量和改善蛋白质（酶）的性能等方面广泛应用。     

Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA comparisons reveal extreme rate variation in the molecular clock

The discovery that the rate of evolution of vertebrate mitochondrial DNA is rapid, compared to the rate for vertebrate nuclear DNA, has resulted in its widespread use in evolutionary studies. Comparison of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA divergences among echinoid and vertebrate taxa of similar ages indicates that the rapid rate of vertebrate mitochondrial DNA evolution is, in part, an artifact of a widely divergent rate of nuclear DNA evolution. This disparity in relative rates of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA divergence suggests that the controls and constraints under which the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes operate are evolving independently, and provides evidence that is independent of fossil dating for a robust rejection of a generalized molecular clock hypothesis of DNA evolution.     

牛生长激素基因外显子5序列变异及其分子进化特征

通过双向直接测序法测定中国5个牛种生长激素(GH)基因外显子5序列,并且在分析序列变异的基础上探讨GH基因外显子5序列的分子进化特征.序列分析表明,5个牛种GH基因外显子5的遗传变异水平较低,平均核苷酸变异率约为3.48%,而且绝大多数位点的核苷酸替换是同义突变,仅发现1个错义突变位点;从GH基因外显子5序列单倍型构建的分子进化树来看,水牛与普通牛、瘤牛、牦牛及大额牛的分化相对比较明显,其他4个牛种之间并无明显分化,还享有共同的祖先序列.研究结果也说明牛GH基因外显子5在进化过程中由于功能的约束表现相当保守,进化速率缓慢.     

Cloning and Sequence Analysis on 3' Coding Region of Wild Boar and Cross Bred Pig Myostatin Gene

Myostatin, with a highly conservative gene among breeds is a negative regulator of muscle. The 3' coding regions of wild boar and crossbred pig myostatin were cloned by RT-PCR and sequenced respectively. The homology of the nucleotide sequence between wild boar and crossbred pig was 100% and there was no difference in this region compared with pig myostatin gene of Genbank. This indicated that there was not change of gene sequence in this region during the evolution processes.     

平贝母体细胞胚胎发生早期核酸和蛋白质合成动态的研究

在长期平贝母(Frifiiavia ussuviensis Maxim)组织培养中,建立比较稳定的体细胞胚胎发生体系,应用放射性同位素~3H 的液体闪烁技术测得,体细胞胚 RNA、蛋白质和 DNA 合成分别在诱导培养第5,7,8b 达到高峰。组织细胞学观察表明,体细胞胚胎发生早期的核酸与蛋白质合成的变化与愈伤组织中细胞的胚性化和胚性细胞的增殖相关。     

Genetic clues to dispersal in human populations: retracing the past from the present

Ongoing debate about proper interpretation of DNA sequence polymorphisms and their ability to reconstruct human population history illustrates a important change in perspective that we have achieved in the past 20 years of population genetics. To what extent does the history of a locus represent the history of a population? Tools originally developed for molecular systematics, where genetic lineages have been separated by speciation events, are routinely applied to the analysis of variation within our species, with conflicting results. Because of automated technologies and linkage analysis, we are poised to harvest a wealth of information about our past, if we are successful in moving beyond a current polarization regarding models of human evolution. Rather than just suggesting that true resolution will only come by considering fossil or archaeological evidence, the realistic and appropriate application of genetic models for analysis of population structure is also necessary. Three examples from different dispersal events are highlighted here.     

North polar region of Mars: imaging results from viking 2

During October 1976, the Viking 2 orbiter acquired approximately 700 high-resolution images of the north polar region of Mars. These images confirm the existence at the north pole of extensive layered deposits largely covered over with deposits of perennial ice. An unconformity within the layered deposits suggests a complex history of climate change during their time of deposition. A pole-girdling accumulation of dunes composed of very dark materials is revealed for the first time by the Viking cameras. The entire region is devoid of fresh impact craters. Rapid rates of erosion or deposition are implied. A scenario for polar geological evolution, involving two types of climate change, is proposed.     

Genome-wide Identification and Analysis of DNA Methyltransferases in Grape

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic regulation mechanism, which is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases. In this study, eight DNA methyltransferase genes were identified in grape genome to analyze the selective pressure, gene expression and codon usage bias. The results showed grape DNA methyltransferase MET subfamily underwent relatively strong purifying selection during evolution, while chromomethylase CMT subfamily underwent positive selection during evolution. Under different abiotic(heat, drought or cold) stresses, the expression level of many grape DNA methyltransferase genes changed significantly. The expression level of these genes might be related with cis-regulatory elements of their promoters. The results of codon usage bias analysis showed that synonymous codon bias existed in grape DNA methyltransferase gene family, which might be affected by mutation pressure. These results laid a solid foundation for in-depth study of DNA methyltransferases in grape.     

The composite genome of the legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti

The scarcity of usable nitrogen frequently limits plant growth. A tight metabolic association with rhizobial bacteria allows legumes to obtain nitrogen compounds by bacterial reduction of dinitrogen (N2) to ammonium (NH4+). We present here the annotated DNA sequence of the alpha-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, the symbiont of alfalfa. The tripartite 6.7-megabase (Mb) genome comprises a 3.65-Mb chromosome, and 1.35-Mb pSymA and 1.68-Mb pSymB megaplasmids. Genome sequence analysis indicates that all three elements contribute, in varying degrees, to symbiosis and reveals how this genome may have emerged during evolution. The genome sequence will be useful in understanding the dynamics of interkingdom associations and of life in soil environments.     

伏牛白山羊mtDNAD—loop序列多态性和系统进化分析

为研究河南省伏牛白山羊的遗传多样性和系统进化,试验测定了该品种8个个体的线粒体控制区全序列,结果表明,山羊控制区线粒体控制全序列长度为1212bp或1213bp,A T含量占60.1%,其中40个核苷酸位点存在变异(约占3.30%),核苷酸多样度为1.562%,这些差异共定义了7种单倍型,单倍型多样性为0.964,表明中国山羊品种遗传多样性丰富。根据伏牛白山羊序列和GENBANK两条野山羊序列构建了NJ分子系统树,聚类表明,伏牛白山羊和角骨羊单独聚在一枝上,二者亲缘关系较近,伏牛白山羊可能起源于角骨羊。     

驴生长激素基因的克隆与分析

 【目的】克隆驴生长激素基因DNA和cDNA的全序列,分析其序列和cDNA编码的蛋白序列特征及其在不同物种中的遗传差异。【方法】根据不同物种同一基因序列的同源性比对结果设计引物,应用RT-PCR和PCR 技术克隆基因,用生物信息学方法对获得的DNA和cDNA及推定的氨基酸序列进行分析。【结果】从驴肝组织和血液中分别得到驴GH基因全序列1 928 bp和包括完整的编码区的cDNA序列706 bp,两者序列比对后证明驴GH基因DNA序列由5个外显子和4个内含子组成,编码216个氨基酸的GH前体蛋白,其中包括26个氨基酸的信号肽和190个氨基酸的成熟肽。序列比较结果表明,驴GH基因的序列与马同源性最高,启动子不是哺乳动物的典型TATA盒,而是CATA盒,该基因在进化过程中是保守的。【结论】从驴肝组织和血液中克隆了GH基因DNA和cDNA,DNA序列在1 267位的C→G可能影响到驴和马生长发育的差异,为下一步驴GH基因的表达调控、进化和多态性分析奠定了基础。     

序列分析在林蛙系统学研究中的进展

应用DNA序列研究生物的系统发育和进化规律成为当前分子系统学研究的热点,在现阶段的研究中,线粒体DNA序列分析已经被广泛的的用于林蛙的系统学研究,成为研究系统发育以及生物地理演化的重要手段,但核基因在系统发育研究中的作用不可忽视。近些年来研究者们发现核基因包含有更加丰富的生物学信息,运用核基因序列或将核基因序列与线粒体基因序列相结合研究两栖动物的系统发育正成为分子系统学领域的新的发展趋势。正因为对林蛙的研究多只局限于线粒体DNA,使得研究结果并不完善甚至存在一定的问题,因此需要借鉴研究者对其他两栖类的研究经验,利用核基因与线粒体基因结合对中国林蛙进行进行系统研究。     

Inserted sequences in bovine satellite DNA's

The nucleotide sequence of the 1413-base-pair repeat unit of bovine 1.711a satellite DNA (density in cesium chloride, 1.711 grams per cubic centimeter) has been determined. The repeat unit contains two segments consisting of variants of a basic 23-base-pair sequence that is closely related to sequences of bovine 1.706 satellite DNA. A third segment of the repeat unit contains an unrelated 611-base-pair sequence that is not internally repetitive. This segment is flanked by inverted repeats of 8 base pairs and, on one side, by a direct repeat of the terminal sequence. A related segment is present in bovine 1.711b satellite DNA and is inserted into sequences derived from the 1.715 satellite. These nucleotide sequences suggest the timing of some of the stages in the evolution of these complex, closely related satellite DNA's and indicate the mechanisms inherent in their divergence from a common ancestor.     

Positive supercoiling of mitotic DNA drives decatenation by topoisomerase II in eukaryotes

DNA topoisomerase II completely removes DNA intertwining, or catenation, between sister chromatids before they are segregated during cell division. How this occurs throughout the genome is poorly understood. We demonstrate that in yeast, centromeric plasmids undergo a dramatic change in their topology as the cells pass through mitosis. This change is characterized by positive supercoiling of the DNA and requires mitotic spindles and the condensin factor Smc2. When mitotic positive supercoiling occurs on decatenated DNA, it is rapidly relaxed by topoisomerase II. However, when positive supercoiling takes place in catenated plasmid, topoisomerase II activity is directed toward decatenation of the molecules before relaxation. Thus, a topological change on DNA drives topoisomerase II to decatenate molecules during mitosis, potentially driving the full decatenation of the genome.     

Rates of molecular evolution are linked to life history in flowering plants

Variable rates of molecular evolution have been documented across the tree of life, but the cause of this observed variation within and among clades remains uncertain. In plants, it has been suggested that life history traits are correlated with the rate of molecular evolution, but previous studies have yielded conflicting results. Exceptionally large phylogenies of five major angiosperm clades demonstrate that rates of molecular evolution are consistently low in trees and shrubs, with relatively long generation times, as compared with related herbaceous plants, which generally have shorter generation times. Herbs show much higher rates of molecular change but also much higher variance in rates. Correlates of life history attributes have long been of interest to biologists, and our results demonstrate how changes in the rate of molecular evolution that are linked to life history traits can affect measurements of the tempo of evolution as well as our ability to identify and conserve biodiversity.     

A fine-scale chimpanzee genetic map from population sequencing

To study the evolution of recombination rates in apes, we developed methodology to construct a fine-scale genetic map from high-throughput sequence data from 10 Western chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes verus. Compared to the human genetic map, broad-scale recombination rates tend to be conserved, but with exceptions, particularly in regions of chromosomal rearrangements and around the site of ancestral fusion in human chromosome 2. At fine scales, chimpanzee recombination is dominated by hotspots, which show no overlap with those of humans even though rates are similarly elevated around CpG islands and decreased within genes. The hotspot-specifying protein PRDM9 shows extensive variation among Western chimpanzees, and there is little evidence that any sequence motifs are enriched in hotspots. The contrasting locations of hotspots provide a natural experiment, which demonstrates the impact of recombination on base composition.