Different Genes are Recruited During Convergent Evolution of Pregnancy and the Placenta. (7th April 2022)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Different Genes are Recruited During Convergent Evolution of Pregnancy and the Placenta. (7th April 2022)
- Main Title:
- Different Genes are Recruited During Convergent Evolution of Pregnancy and the Placenta
- Authors:
- Foster, Charles S.P.
Van Dyke, James U.
Thompson, Michael B.
Smith, Nicholas M.A.
Simpfendorfer, Colin A.
Murphy, Christopher R.
Whittington, Camilla M. - Editors:
- Teeling, Emma
- Abstract:
- Abstract: The repeated evolution of the same traits in distantly related groups (convergent evolution) raises a key question in evolutionary biology: do the same genes underpin convergent phenotypes? Here, we explore one such trait, viviparity (live birth), which, qualitative studies suggest, may indeed have evolved via genetic convergence. There are >150 independent origins of live birth in vertebrates, providing a uniquely powerful system to test the mechanisms underpinning convergence in morphology, physiology, and/or gene recruitment during pregnancy. We compared transcriptomic data from eight vertebrates (lizards, mammals, sharks) that gestate embryos within the uterus. Since many previous studies detected qualitative similarities in gene use during independent origins of pregnancy, we expected to find significant overlap in gene use in viviparous taxa. However, we found no more overlap in uterine gene expression associated with viviparity than we would expect by chance alone. Each viviparous lineage exhibits the same core set of uterine physiological functions. Yet, contrary to prevailing assumptions about this trait, we find that none of the same genes are differentially expressed in all viviparous lineages, or even in all viviparous amniote lineages. Therefore, across distantly related vertebrates, different genes have been recruited to support the morphological and physiological changes required for successful pregnancy. We conclude that redundancies in geneAbstract: The repeated evolution of the same traits in distantly related groups (convergent evolution) raises a key question in evolutionary biology: do the same genes underpin convergent phenotypes? Here, we explore one such trait, viviparity (live birth), which, qualitative studies suggest, may indeed have evolved via genetic convergence. There are >150 independent origins of live birth in vertebrates, providing a uniquely powerful system to test the mechanisms underpinning convergence in morphology, physiology, and/or gene recruitment during pregnancy. We compared transcriptomic data from eight vertebrates (lizards, mammals, sharks) that gestate embryos within the uterus. Since many previous studies detected qualitative similarities in gene use during independent origins of pregnancy, we expected to find significant overlap in gene use in viviparous taxa. However, we found no more overlap in uterine gene expression associated with viviparity than we would expect by chance alone. Each viviparous lineage exhibits the same core set of uterine physiological functions. Yet, contrary to prevailing assumptions about this trait, we find that none of the same genes are differentially expressed in all viviparous lineages, or even in all viviparous amniote lineages. Therefore, across distantly related vertebrates, different genes have been recruited to support the morphological and physiological changes required for successful pregnancy. We conclude that redundancies in gene function have enabled the repeated evolution of viviparity through recruitment of different genes from genomic "toolboxes", which are uniquely constrained by the ancestries of each lineage. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Molecular biology and evolution. Volume 39:Number 4(2022)
- Journal:
- Molecular biology and evolution
- Issue:
- Volume 39:Number 4(2022)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 39, Issue 4 (2022)
- Year:
- 2022
- Volume:
- 39
- Issue:
- 4
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2022-0039-0004-0000
- Page Start:
- Page End:
- Publication Date:
- 2022-04-07
- Subjects:
- complex traits -- viviparity -- placentotrophy
Molecular biology -- Periodicals
Molecular evolution -- Periodicals
Evolution, Molecular -- Periodicals
Molecular Biology -- Periodicals
572.8 - Journal URLs:
- http://mbe.oxfordjournals.org/ ↗
http://www.molbiolevol.org/ ↗
http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/ ↗
http://firstsearch.oclc.org ↗
http://firstsearch.oclc.org/journal=0737-7038;screen=info;ECOIP ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1093/molbev/msac077 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0737-4038
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 5900.782000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 21408.xml