A new gene has been identified in humans that is not present in other apes, shedding more light on human evolution.
Researchers of the University of Edinburgh (UK) compared the human genome to 11 other mammalian species, including chimps, gorillas, mice and rats. They found that only humans possessed the gene miR-941. This is a stark contrast to previous genetic differences found between us and o
The fact that only we have this gene is remarkable. Differences between species are usually a result of changes to genes, duplication or deletion. But miR-941 seems to have emerged fully-functional out of "junk" DNA (non-coding genetic material), and its emergence was extremely brief in evolutionary terms. It's also estimated this gene emerged between 1 and 6 million years ago, after humans and chimps had split from their last common ancestor.
Dr. Martin Taylor, who led the study, commented, "As a species, humans are wonderfully inventive -- we are socially and technologically evolving all the time. But this research shows that we are innovating at a genetic level too. This new molecule sprang from nowhere at a time when our species was undergoing dramatic changes: living longer, walking upright, learning how to use tools and how to communicate. We're now hopeful that we will find more new genes that help show what makes us human."
Photo credit: Michael Nichols.
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If you want to read the team's paper, click here: http://www.nature.com/
Regarding FoxP2 gene: http://
Researchers of the University of Edinburgh (UK) compared the human genome to 11 other mammalian species, including chimps, gorillas, mice and rats. They found that only humans possessed the gene miR-941. This is a stark contrast to previous genetic differences found between us and o
ur ape cousins, which indicated changes
to genes rather than totally new ones (a good example of this is the
FoxP2 gene - though we have different versions with different effects,
we still both have the gene). Further testing revealed that this gene is
highly active in two brain areas that make humans so successful - tool
use and language abilities. These results strongly indicate that miR-941
makes a large contribution to our higher brain functions.
The fact that only we have this gene is remarkable. Differences between species are usually a result of changes to genes, duplication or deletion. But miR-941 seems to have emerged fully-functional out of "junk" DNA (non-coding genetic material), and its emergence was extremely brief in evolutionary terms. It's also estimated this gene emerged between 1 and 6 million years ago, after humans and chimps had split from their last common ancestor.
Dr. Martin Taylor, who led the study, commented, "As a species, humans are wonderfully inventive -- we are socially and technologically evolving all the time. But this research shows that we are innovating at a genetic level too. This new molecule sprang from nowhere at a time when our species was undergoing dramatic changes: living longer, walking upright, learning how to use tools and how to communicate. We're now hopeful that we will find more new genes that help show what makes us human."
Photo credit: Michael Nichols.
http://
http://
If you want to read the team's paper, click here: http://www.nature.com/
Regarding FoxP2 gene: http://
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