Gene Loss

Publication Details

Identifier: JB_MPRGS1

Curator: Gonçalo Themudo

Title:

Regressed but Not Gone: Patterns of Vision Gene Loss and Retention in Subterranean Mammals.

Abstract:

Regressive evolution involves the degradation of formerly useful traits as organisms invade novel ecological niches. In animals, committing to a strict subterranean habit can lead to regression of the eyes, likely due to a limited exposure to light. Several lineages of subterranean mammals show evidence of such degeneration, which can include decreased organization of the retina, malformation of the lens, and subcutaneous positioning of the eye. Advances in DNA sequencing have revealed that this regression co-occurs with a degradation of genomic loci encoding visual functions, including protein-coding genes. Other dim light-adapted vertebrates with normal ocular anatomy, such as nocturnal and aquatic species, also demonstrate evidence of visual gene loss, but the absence of comparative studies has led to the untested assumption that subterranean mammals are special in the degree of this genomic regression. Additionally, previous studies have shown that not all vision genes have been lost in subterranean mammals, but it is unclear whether they are under relaxed selection and will ultimately be lost, are maintained due to pleiotropy or if natural selection is favoring the retention of the eye and certain critical underlying loci. Here I report that vision gene loss in subterranean mammals tends to be more extensive in quantity and differs in distribution from other dim light-adapted mammals, although some committed subterranean mammals demonstrate significant overlap with nocturnal microphthalmic species. In addition, blind subterranean mammals retain functional orthologs of non-pleiotropic visual genes that are evolving at rates consistent with purifying selection. Together, these results suggest that although living underground tends to lead to major losses of visual functions, natural selection is maintaining genes that support the eye, perhaps as an organ for circadian and/or circannual entrainment.

Last update:

30-10-2024

Associated Glosses (360 results)

GlossID	Species	Symbol	Gene Loss Mechanism	Loss Type	Lineage Specific	Citation
GL_R4NXAO	Nannospalax galili	GUCA1B	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	No	10.1093/icb/icy004
GL_RDVOBS	Orycteropus afer	GABRR1	Gene deletion	Full	No	10.1093/icb/icy004
GL_REQBXZ	Condylura cristata	IMPG1	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	No	10.1093/icb/icy004
GL_RGSDGS	Carlito syrichta	VSX1	Gene deletion	Full	No	10.1093/icb/icy004
GL_ROHCUN	Echinops telfairi	CRYGA	Gene deletion	Full	No	10.1093/icb/icy004
GL_RTUJFA	Miniopterus natalensis	RGR	Gene deletion	Full	No	10.1093/icb/icy004
GL_S202T0	Tupaia chinensis	CRYGA	Gene deletion	Full	No	10.1093/icb/icy004
GL_S2YRX0	Nannospalax galili	CACNA2D4	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	No	10.1093/icb/icy004
GL_S777CB	Fukomys damarensis	EYS	Gene deletion	Full	No	10.1093/icb/icy004
GL_SCJ2Y3	Sorex araneus	RP1L1	Gene deletion	Full	No	10.1093/icb/icy004