Endless forms: the evolution of gene regulation and morphological diversity

Article Abstract:

The evolution of gene regulation and morphological diversity is discussed in this minireview. Mounting evidence indicating a central role for differences in developmental gene regulation in intraspecific variation and body plans and body parts diversification is reviewed with changes in the cis-regulatory systems of genes and why changes in them more often are behind the evolution of morphological diversity than are changes in protein function or gene number. The sufficiency of evolutionary mechanisms seen below or at the species level to account for the larger scale patterns of morphological evolution is discussed from the developmental genetic perspective.

United States, Genetic aspects, Morphology (Biology), Evolution (Biology), Genetic regulation, Developmental genetics, Evolution, Morphology

Regulation of body pigmentation by the Abdominal-B Hox protein and its gain and loss in Drosophila evolution

Article Abstract:

The Abdominal-B (ABD-B) Hox protein is shown to directly activate the expression of the yellow pigmentation gene in the male A5 and A6 segments through binding sites in a specific cis-regulatory element (CRE) of the yellow gene. The results have demonstrated that Hox proteins directly activate terminal phenotypes and that the gain and loss of Hox regulation occur at the level of individual species through modifications of CREs.

Physiological aspects, Drosophila, Skin color, Skin colour

Stochastic gene expression in a lentiviral positive-feedback loop: HIV-1 Tat fluctuations drive phenotypic diversity

Article Abstract:

An extensive experimental/computational study of an HIV-1 model vector is presented. It shows that stochastic fluctuations in Tat influence the viral latency decision.

Phenotype, Phenotypes