Publications by authors named "Karen M Allum"
Autonomous replication and segregation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) creates the potential for evolutionary conflict driven by emergence of haplotypes under positive selection for 'selfish' traits, such as replicative advantage. However, few cases of this phenomenon arising within natural populations have been described. Here, we survey the frequency of mtDNA horizontal transfer within the canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT), a contagious cancer clone that occasionally acquires mtDNA from its hosts.
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- Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is a unique cancer that has survived for thousands of years by spreading through cell transfer from one dog to another.
- Researchers analyzed 546 CTVT exomes to create a timeline and track its global spread, discovering a specific mutational process that occurred early in its evolution but later disappeared.
- The study found that while CTVT shows minimal ongoing positive selection and some negative selection in key genes, random genetic drift plays a major role in the long-term evolution of this cancer.
Article Synopsis
- Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is a unique form of cancer in dogs, dating back around 11,000 years and affecting dogs worldwide.
- Researchers analyzed 449 complete mitochondrial DNA sequences from CTVT cases and found that mitochondrial DNA has been transferred between different hosts at least five times, creating distinct tumor groups that align with historical dog migrations.
- The study suggests that this captured mitochondrial DNA helps drive the spread of CTVT globally and emphasizes the critical role of mitochondrial DNA in the evolution of cancer.