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The Fate of Duplicated Genes
Mar 31, 2005, 22:07, Reviewed by: Dr.
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Applying this model to the Arabidopsis thaliana genome revealed that 60% of the duplicate genes were survivors of three ancient genome duplications, whereas the remaining 40% arose through small-scale events.
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By PNAS, U.S.,
Providing insight into the evolution of biological complexity, Steven Maere et al. have developed a computer model that simulates the fate of genes that arise from small-scale local duplications and duplications involving the entire genome.
Applying this model to the Arabidopsis thaliana genome revealed that 60% of the duplicate genes were survivors of three ancient genome duplications, whereas the remaining 40% arose through small-scale events.
The simulations also showed that the decay rate for different types of genes differed dramatically depending on the size of the duplication event. Genes involved in kinase activity, transcription, protein binding/modification, and signal transduction demonstrated low decay rates if they were produced by large-scale duplication events. Similar genes created through small duplications tended to decay more rapidly.
Based on these results, Maere et al. estimate that 90% of transcription factors in Arabidopsis and higher plants arose during the three genome duplications that occurred in the last 350 million years. Genes involved in secondary metabolism or that respond to biotic stimuli-like pathogen attack, drought, or salinity tend to be preserved regardless of the mode of duplication, according to the authors. 
- "Modeling gene and genome duplications in eukaryotes" by Steven Maere, Stefanie De Bodt, Jeroen Raes, Tineke Casneuf, Marc Van Montagu, Martin Kuiper, and Yves Van de Peer
Read the full text of this article
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
PNAS is one of the world's most-cited multidisciplinary scientific serials. Since its establishment in 1914, it continues to publish cutting-edge research reports, commentaries, reviews, perspectives, colloquium papers, and actions of the Academy. Coverage in PNAS spans the biological, physical, and social sciences. PNAS is published weekly in print, and daily online in PNAS Early Edition. The PNAS impact factor is 10.3 for 2003. PNAS is available by subscription.
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