Humans possess a communication system based on spoken and written language. Other animals can learn vocalization by imitation, but this is not equivalent to human language. Many genes were described to be implicated in language impairment (LI) and developmental dyslexia (DD), but their evolutionary history has not been thoroughly analyzed. Herein we analyzed the evolution of ten genes involved in DD and LI. Results show that the evolutionary history of LI genes for mammals and aves was comparable in vocal-learner species and non-learners. For the human lineage, several sites showing evidence of positive selection were identified in KIAA0319 and were already present in Neanderthals and Denisovans, suggesting that any phenotypic change they entailed was shared with archaic hominins. Conversely, in FOXP2, ROBO1, ROBO2, and CNTNAP2 non-coding changes rose to high frequency after the separation from archaic hominins. These variants are promising candidates for association studies in LI and DD.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep22157 | DOI Listing |
Planta
January 2025
School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia.
A gene within a single subclade of NCED genes is triggered in response to both, short- and long-term dehydration treatments, in three model dicot species. During dehydration, some plants can rapidly synthesise the stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) in leaves within 20 min, triggering the closure of stomata and limiting further water loss. This response is associated with significant transcriptional upregulation of Nine-cis-Epoxycarotenoid Dioxygenase (NCED) genes, which encode the enzyme considered to be rate-limiting in ABA biosynthesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy.
The Low Density Lipoprotein receptors (LDLRs) gene family includes 15 receptors: very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), LDLR, Sorting-related receptor with A-type repeats (SORLA), and 12 LDL receptor-related proteins (LRPs): LRP1, LRP1B, LRP2, LRP3, LRP4, LRP5, LRP6, LRP8, LRP10, LRP11, LRP12, LRP13. Most of these are involved in the transduction of key signals during embryonic development and in the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis. In oviparous animals, the VLDL receptor is also known as VTGR since it facilitates the uptake of vitellogenin in ovary.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
Florida Museum of Natural History, Dickinson Hall, 1659 Museum Road, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
The Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata) is a vulnerable species displaying a discrete size-polymorphism in the northwest Atlantic Ocean (NWA). We conducted whole genome sequencing of samples collected across its range. Genetic diversity was similar at all sampled sites, but we discovered a ~ 31 megabase bi-allelic supergene associated with the size polymorphism, with the larger size allele having introgressed in the last ~160,000 years B.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntegr Zool
January 2025
Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Deep-sea shrimps from the family Alvinocarididae are prominent inhabitants of chemosynthesis-based habitats worldwide. However, their genetic diversity and population connectivity remain poorly understood due to limited sampling. To fill these knowledge gaps, we compared the population genetics of two vent- and seep-dwelling alvinocaridid species with overlapped geographic ranges between the South China Sea and the Manus Basin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethods Enzymol
January 2025
Life Science, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. Electronic address:
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a model eukaryotic organism with a rich history in research and industry, has become a pivotal tool for studying Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes despite lacking these enzymes endogenously. This chapter reviews the diverse methodologies harnessed using yeast to elucidate ADAR structure and function, emphasizing its role in advancing our understanding of RNA editing. Initially, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was instrumental in the high-yield purification of ADARs, addressing challenges associated with enzyme stability and activity in other systems.
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