The Origins and Functions of De Novo Genes: Against All Odds?

“De novo” genes evolve from previously non-genic DNA. This strikes many of us as remarkable, because it seems extraordinarily unlikely that random sequence would produce a functional gene. How is this possible? In this two-part review, I first summarize what is known about the origins and molecular...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of molecular evolution Vol. 90; no. 3-4; pp. 244 - 257
Main Author Weisman, Caroline M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.08.2022
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Animal Genetics and Genomics
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Case studies
Cell Biology
Evolution
Evolutionary Biology
Genes
Genomics
Life Sciences
Microbiology
Origins
Plant Genetics and Genomics
Plant Sciences
Proteins
Review
Taxonomically-restricted genes
Gene birth
Genetic novelty
Lineage-specific genes
Evolutionary novelty
De novo genes
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Summary:“De novo” genes evolve from previously non-genic DNA. This strikes many of us as remarkable, because it seems extraordinarily unlikely that random sequence would produce a functional gene. How is this possible? In this two-part review, I first summarize what is known about the origins and molecular functions of the small number of de novo genes for which such information is available. I then speculate on what these examples may tell us about how de novo genes manage to emerge despite what seem like enormous opposing odds.
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Handling editor: David Liberles.
ISSN:0022-2844
1432-1432
1432-1432
DOI:10.1007/s00239-022-10055-3