1: Gene expression evolution Flashcards
What is Cis-regulatory variation?
DNA that regulates transcription that is in close proximity to the gene it regulates
Describe enhancer sequences and their role
Sequences close to the gene they regulate (but do not have to be directly upstream like the core promoters)
- Help bind transcription factors
What’s the point of alternative splicing?
- Way for gene to code for multiple proteins by post-transcriptional regulation joining exons in different combos
- Instead of changing expression level it changes how the exons are spliced together
What is Trans-regulatory variation?
DNA that regulates transcription that is far away from the gene it regulates
e.g transcription factors, RNA
What are Pleiotropic effects?
multiple effects of one mutation
Briefly describe the debate about: how important is (trans/cis) regulatory variation compared to coding gene changes?
- Some argue that, complex traits are influenced more by changes in gene expression than changes in protein struc
- Some argue that regulatory variation = greater evolutionary flexivility (as peliotropic effects are often purged from the pop.)
- Argument against this: Gene duplication events
= Overall, both have evidence but we don’t know yet which is most important