The origin of genes could be polyphyletic

Gene
M Di Giulio

Abstract

The paradigm of the monophyletic origin of genes is deeply rooted in us all. For instance, this stems from the observation that the possibility of obtaining a good multiple alignment using the same protein from organisms from the three domains of life (Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya) would seem to imply that the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) must have had that protein and, therefore, the origin of that gene must necessarily be monophyletic. The hypothesis of a polyphyletic origin of genes has to explain how it was possible to evolve highly conserved regions of multiple alignments of orthologous proteins from the three domains of life when these regions clearly seem to define a monophyletic origin of genes. If mRNAs were assembled at the stage of the LUCA through the trans-splicing of pieces of RNA representing mini-genes, and the translation of these mRNAs resulted in proteins whose genes (DNA) actually only evolved much later, i.e. only after the main domains of life were established, then this would explain why multiple alignments of orthologous proteins can be obtained from the three domains of life. Therefore, this makes these multiple alignments compatible with a polyphyletic origin of genes. I have analysed many mu...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

May 27, 2009·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Kenji Ikehara
Jul 27, 2010·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Massimo Di Giulio
Mar 23, 2010·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Sonja J ProhaskaDavid C Krakauer
Apr 28, 2009·Current Opinion in Structural Biology·Ruben E ValasPhilip E Bourne
Jul 5, 2017·Journal of Genetics·Massimo Di Giulio
Jan 13, 2009·The Biochemical Journal·Gustavo Caetano-AnollésJay E Mittenthal

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