The animal in the genome: comparative genomics and evolution.

Full Abstract

Comparisons between completely sequenced metazoan genomes have generally emphasized how similar their encoded protein content is, even when the comparison is between phyla. Given the manifest differences between phyla and, in particular, intuitive notions that some animals are more complex than others, this creates something of a paradox. Simplistic explanations have included arguments such as increased numbers of genes; greater numbers of protein products produced through alternative splicing; increased numbers of regulatory non-coding RNAs and increased complexity of the cis-regulatory code. An obvious value of complete genome sequences lies in their ability to provide us with inventories of such components. I examine progress being made in linking genome content to the pattern of animal evolution, and argue that the gap between genomic and phenotypic complexity can only be understood through the totality of interacting components.

Author information

Author/s: Copley, Richard R (RR);

Affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK. copley(-atsign-)well.ox.ac.uk

Grants: (Agency:Wellcome Trust)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences (Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 363 (issue 1496) : pp 1453-61

Dates: Created 2008/06/12; Completed 2008/08/13; Revised 2009/04/28;

PMID: 18192189, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 4/29/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Alternative Splicing
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Base Sequence
Conserved Sequence
DNA - genetics
Drosophila - genetics
Drosophila Proteins - chemistry; genetics
Enhancer Elements, Genetic
Evolution
Evolution, Molecular

Evolution, Molecular
Genome
Genomics - methods
Humans
Models, Molecular
Molecular Sequence Data
Phenotype
Proteins - genetics
Repressor Proteins - chemistry; genetics
Sequence Alignment
Transcription Factors - genetics

Associated Chemicals: Drosophila Proteins (0) ; Proteins (0) ; Repressor Proteins (0) ; Transcription Factors (0) ; brinker protein, Drosophila (0) ; DNA (9007-49-2)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database: