How a skin fold for gliding emerged in marsupials

Genomic analysis suggests that this trait came about through different changes to the regulation of the same gene. Investigating the function of this gene in an unusual research model, such as the sugar glider, is not trivial because conventional experimental tools that have been established for mod...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 2024-05, Vol.629 (8010), p.43-44
Main Author: Lupiáñez, Darío G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biology
Genes
Genomes
Genomic analysis
Genomics
Gliding
Marsupials
Mutation
Neural coding
Transcription factors
Urogenital system
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Summary:Genomic analysis suggests that this trait came about through different changes to the regulation of the same gene. Investigating the function of this gene in an unusual research model, such as the sugar glider, is not trivial because conventional experimental tools that have been established for model organisms, such as mice and fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), are not necessarily available. [...]mutations in enhancer regions can lead to time- and tissue-restricted effects that an organism might be able to tolerate more than they can mutations in coding regions. [...]the enhancer mutations described in the current study would preserve Emx2 functions in crucial tissues, such as the brain or the urogenital system, while providing room for new functions to evolve.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/d41586-024-01021-8