Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Molecular Biology
A study of haddock from the Georges Bank–Gulf of Maine region used DNA methylation patterns in fin tissue to estimate age. The final model used 109 sites and had a reported mean absolute error of 0.17 years.
Human-specific changes in gene regulation appear to have reduced the amount of glycosaminoglycans, or GAGs, in human joints compared with those of non-human apes. The researchers say this evolutionary shift may contribute to humans’ susceptibility to degenerative skeletal diseases.
A study of threespine sticklebacks found that genes with different activity in freshwater fish were enriched for genetic variants previously linked to rapid adaptation. The variants were associated with tissue-specific processes including ion regulation in the gills and fatty acid metabolism in the brain.
Envelope-carrying genetic elements related to those found in fruit flies are widespread across several invertebrate animal groups, including some ancient animal lineages. Their evolutionary patterns suggest that the link between these elements and envelope genes may date to before major animal groups diverged.
