• Title/Summary/Keyword: evolutionary biology

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Evolutionary and Functional Analysis of Korean Native Pig Using Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

  • Lee, Jongin;Park, Nayoung;Lee, Daehwan;Kim, Jaebum
    • Molecules and Cells
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    • v.43 no.8
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    • pp.728-738
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    • 2020
  • Time and cost-effective production of next-generation sequencing data has enabled the performance of population-scale comparative and evolutionary studies for various species, which are essential for obtaining the comprehensive insight into molecular mechanisms underlying species- or breed-specific traits. In this study, the evolutionary and functional analysis of Korean native pig (KNP) was performed using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data by comparative and population genomic approaches with six different mammalian species and five pig breeds. We examined the evolutionary history of KNP SNPs, and the specific genes of KNP based on the uniqueness of non-synonymous SNPs among the used species and pig breeds. We discovered the evolutionary trajectory of KNP SNPs within the used mammalian species as well as pig breeds. We also found olfaction-associated functions that have been characterized and diversified during evolution, and quantitative trait loci associated with the unique traits of KNP. Our study provides new insight into the evolution of KNP and serves as a good example for a better understanding of domestic animals in terms of evolution and domestication using the combined approaches of comparative and population genomics.

Morphological Characteristics and Phylogenetic Trends of Trematode Cercariae in Freshwater Snails from Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand

  • Chontananarth, Thapana;Tejangkura, Thanawan;Wetchasart, Napat;Chimburut, Cherdchay
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.55 no.1
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    • pp.47-54
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    • 2017
  • The prevalence of cercarial infection in freshwater snails and their evolutionary trends were studied in Nakhon Nayok province, Thailand. A total of 2,869 individual snails were examined for parasitic infections. The results showed that 12 snail species were found to host larval stages of trematodes with an overall prevalence of 4.7%. The infected specimens included 7 types at the cercarial stage; cercariae, megalurous cercariae, echinostome cercariae, furcocercous cercariae, parapleurolophocercous cercariae, virgulate cercariae, and xiphidiocercariae. Regarding molecular identification, ITS2 sequence data of each larval trematode were analyzed, and a dendrogram was constructed using the neighbor-joining method with 10,000 replicates. The dendrogram was separated into 6 clades (order/family), including Echinostomatida/Echinostomatidae, Echinostomatida/Philophthalmidae, Opisthorchiida/Heterophyidae, Plagiorchiida/Prosthogonimidae, Plagiorchiida/Lecithodendriidae, and Strigeatida/Cyathocotylidae. These findings were used to confirm morphological characteristics and evolutionary trends of each type of cercariae discovered in Nakhon Nayok province. Furthermore, this investigation confirmed that the ITS2 data of cercariae could be used to study on phylogenetic relationships or to determine classification of this species at order and/or family level when possible.

Biological roles and an evolutionary sketch of the GRF-GIF transcriptional complex in plants

  • Kim, Jeong Hoe
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.52 no.4
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    • pp.227-238
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    • 2019
  • GROWTH-REGULATING FACTORs (GRFs) are sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factors that regulate various aspects of plant growth and development. GRF proteins interact with a transcription cofactor, GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR (GIF), to form a functional transcriptional complex. For its activities, the GRF-GIF duo requires the SWITCH2/SUCROSE NONFERMENTING2 chromatin remodeling complex. One of the most conspicuous roles of the duo is conferring the meristematic potential on the proliferative and formative cells during organogenesis. GRF expression is post-transcriptionally down-regulated by microRNA396 (miR396), thus constructing the GRF-GIF-miR396 module and fine-tuning the duo's action. Since the last comprehensive review articles were published over three years ago, many studies have added further insight into its action and elucidated new biological roles. The current review highlights recent advances in our understanding of how the GRF-GIF-miR396 module regulates plant growth and development. In addition, I revise the previous view on the evolutionary origin of the GRF gene family.

Review of the Macrophya regia group (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) from China with the descriptions of two new species

  • LI, Ze-Jian;LIU, Meng-Meng;WEI, Mei-Cai;ZHU, Chao-Dong
    • Entomological Research
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    • v.48 no.5
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    • pp.405-415
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    • 2018
  • The Macrophya regia group is reviewed and five species are recognized from China, among them two new species, M. acutiserrula Li, Liu & Wei sp. nov. and M. frontalis Li, Liu & Zhu sp. nov., and three known species, M. regia Forsius 1930, M. maculoclypeatina Wei et al. 2003, and M. xiaoi Wei et al. 2003. A key to the Chinese species of the Macrophya regia group are provided.