Big Genomes Help Identify Regulatory Elements
Author Information
Author(s): Brant K. Peterson, Emily E. Hare, Venky N. Iyer, Steven Storage, Laura Conner, Daniel R. Papaj, Rick Kurashima, Eric Jang, Michael B. Eisen
Primary Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Hypothesis
Can larger genomes provide better insights into the identification of regulatory sequences in animal genomes?
Conclusion
The study suggests that larger genomes, like those of tephritid fruit flies, may facilitate the identification of regulatory sequences compared to smaller genomes like that of Drosophila melanogaster.
Supporting Evidence
- Tephritid genomes are four to six times larger than Drosophila melanogaster.
- Conserved non-coding sequences in tephritids can drive expression patterns in D. melanogaster embryos.
- Comparative genomic methods are more effective in larger genomes.
Takeaway
This study found that bigger genomes can help scientists find important DNA sequences that control how genes work, making it easier to understand how different animals develop.
Methodology
The researchers sequenced and compared loci involved in early embryonic patterning from four species of true fruit flies and tested the activities of conserved non-coding sequences in transgenic D. melanogaster embryos.
Limitations
The study is limited by the divergence between Drosophila and tephritid genomes, which complicates the mapping of regulatory sequences.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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