The Natural History of Class I Primate Alcohol Dehydrogenases Includes Gene Duplication, Gene Loss, and Gene Conversion

Paleogenetics is an emerging field that resurrects ancestral proteins from now-extinct organisms to test, in the laboratory, models of protein function based on natural history and Darwinian evolution. Here, we resurrect digestive alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH4) from our primate ancestors to explore the history of primate–ethanol interactions. The evolving catalytic properties of these resurrected enzymes show that our ape ancestors gained a digestive dehydrogenase enzyme capable of metabolizing ethanol near the time that they began using the forest floor, about 10 million y ago. The ADH4 enzyme in our more ancient and arboreal ancestors did not efficiently oxidize ethanol. This change suggests that exposure to dietary sources of ethanol increased in hominids during the early stages of our adaptation to a terrestrial lifestyle. Because fruit collected from the forest floor is expected to contain higher concentrations of fermenting yeast and ethanol than similar fruits hanging on trees, this transition may also be the first time our ancestors were exposed to (and adapted to) substantial amounts of dietary ethanol.

Download Full-text

The natural history of cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2009.1.spine08716 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 104-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 125

Author(s):

Paul G. Matz ◽

Paul A. Anderson ◽

Langston T. Holly ◽

Michael W. Groff ◽

Robert F. Heary ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy ◽

Japanese Orthopaedic Association ◽

Consensus Conference ◽

Class I ◽

Class Iii ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Cochrane Database ◽

History Of ◽

Based Medicine

Object The objective of this systematic review was to use evidence-based medicine to delineate the natural history of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and identify factors associated with clinical deterioration. Methods The National Library of Medicine and Cochrane Database were queried using MeSH headings and keywords relevant to the natural history of CSM. Abstracts were reviewed and studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected. The guidelines group assembled an evidentiary table summarizing the quality of evidence (Classes I–III). Disagreements regarding the level of evidence were resolved through an expert consensus conference. The group formulated recommendations that contained the degree of strength based on the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines network. Validation was done through peer review by the Joint Guidelines Committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Results The natural history of CSM is mixed: it may manifest as a slow, stepwise decline or there may be a long period of quiescence (Class III). Long periods of severe stenosis are associated with demyelination and may result in necrosis of both gray and white matter. With severe and/or long lasting CSM symptoms, the likelihood of improvement with nonoperative measures is low. Objectively measurable deterioration is rarely seen acutely in patients younger than 75 years of age with mild CSM (modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale score > 12; Class I). In patients with cervical stenosis without myelopathy, the presence of abnormal electromyography findings or the presence of clinical radiculopathy is associated with the development of symptomatic CSM in this patient population (Class I). Conclusions The natural history of CSM is variable, which may affect treatment decisions.

Download Full-text

Insights on the forming process of reciprocal gene loss in the duplicate DPL genes of rice

10.21203/rs.3.rs-20578/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Fu-min Zhang ◽

Xun Xu ◽

Song Ge

Keyword(s):

Gene Duplication ◽

Evolutionary History ◽

Gene Loss ◽

Recent Common Ancestor ◽

Duplicate Genes ◽

Evolutionary Divergence ◽

Forming Process ◽

Dna Transposons ◽

B Genome ◽

History Of

Abstract Background Reciprocal gene loss (RGL) of duplicate genes is an important genetic source of reproductive isolation, but the forming process of RGL remains poorly understood, particularly when concerning a single gene duplication. The RGL of the duplicate DOPPELGANGER1 ( DPL1 ) and DOPPELGANGER2 ( DPL2 ) gene can lead to BDM-type hybrid incompatibility between two rice subspecies. The evolutionary history of the duplicate genes, including their origin and mechanism of duplication as well as their evolutionary divergence after the duplication, is crucial for understanding the RGL process. Thus, we attempted to elucidate the evolutionary history of the duplicate genes for gaining insights into the forming process of RGL. Results We reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of DPL copies from all 15 diploid species representing six genome types of rice genus and then found that all the DPL copies from the latest diverged A- and B-genome gather into one monophyletic clade. Southern blot analysis also detected definitely two DPL copies only in A- and B-genome. High conserved collinearity can be observed between the DPL1 segments of A- and B-genome and between the DPL 2 segments of A- and B-genome respectively but not between DPL1 and DPL2 segments. Investigations of transposon elements indicated that DPL duplication is more likely to be produced by DNA transposons. Likelihood-based analyses with branch models showed a relaxation of selective strength on DPL1 lineage but an enhancement of selective constraint on DPL2 lineage after DPL duplication. Sequence analysis also indicated that defective DPL1 can be found in six wild and cultivated species out of the eight species of A-genome but only one defective DPL2 occurs in a cultivated rice subspecies. Conclusions DPL duplication of rice originated in the most recent common ancestor of A- and B-genome about 6.76 million years ago and the duplication was possibly caused by DNA transposons. The DPL1 is a redundant copy and has being in the process of pseudogenization, suggesting that artificial selection may play an important role in forming the RGL of DPL genes between two rice subspecies during the domestication. Keywords: Reciprocal gene loss, Gene duplication, Evolution history, DPL , Rice

Download Full-text

Amphibian alcohol dehydrogenase, the major frog liver enzyme. Relationships to other forms and assessment of an early gene duplication separating vertebrate class I and class III alcohol dehydrogenases

Biochemistry ◽

10.1021/bi00225a011 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 30 (11) ◽

pp. 2811-2816 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Ella Cederlund ◽

Josep Maria Peralba ◽

Xavier Pares ◽

Hans Jörnvall

Keyword(s):

Gene Duplication ◽

Alcohol Dehydrogenase ◽

Liver Enzyme ◽

Early Gene ◽

Class I ◽

Class Iii ◽

Alcohol Dehydrogenases

Download Full-text

How is the moral stance related to the intentional stance and group thinking?

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x19002413 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

Author(s):

Hannes Rakoczy

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Intentional Stance ◽

Cognitive Capacities ◽

Shared Intentionality ◽

History Of ◽

Group Thinking ◽

Moral Stance

Abstract The natural history of our moral stance told here in this commentary reveals the close nexus of morality and basic social-cognitive capacities. Big mysteries about morality thus transform into smaller and more manageable ones. Here, I raise questions regarding the conceptual, ontogenetic, and evolutionary relations of the moral stance to the intentional and group stances and to shared intentionality.

Download Full-text