In addition, the Makorin gene family counts at least 3 functional members in the mouse including, of interest, a bona fide functional retrogene, which is transcribed, conserved in mammals, and encodes the Makorin-3 protein, as well as numerous pseudogenes, which can complicate molecular and sequence analysis. ❋ Unknown (2006)
Owing to these characteristics, the researchers concluded that the extra gene is a so-called retrogene that was inserted into the dog genome some time after the ancestor of modern dog breeds diverged from wolves. ❋ Unknown (2009)
These characteristics led researchers to conclude that the extra gene is a so-called retrogene that was inserted into the dog genome some time after the ancestor of modern dog breeds diverged from wolves. ❋ Unknown (2009)
The element -- a so-called retrogene -- changes the expression of IGF-1 and gives the dogs the distinctive short, bowed forelimbs of chondrodysplasia. ❋ Unknown (2009)
There are at least seven different known instances of common retrogene insertions between chimps and humans. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Still, there were some reasons for skepticism – for instance, the Mkrn1-p1 retrogene, despite its purported crucial role in mice, is absent from the genome of all other mammals tested, including closely related rats. ❋ Unknown (2006)
There is some idea that retrogene formation may be favored in testes due to hyperactivity of transcription during male meiosis. ❋ Unknown (2005)
But in every single case, the corresponding retrogene was expressed in testes only. ❋ Unknown (2005)
VonHoldt BM, Quignon P, Margulies EH, Shao S, et al. (2009) An expressed fgf4 retrogene is associated with breed-defining chondrodysplasia in domestic dogs. ❋ Danika Bannasch Et Al. (2010)
In case of short-legged dogs, the inserted retrogene results in the overproduction of the FGF4 protein, which according to researchers could turn on key growth receptors at the wrong times during foetal development. ❋ Unknown (2009)
The dog findings are the first example of a retrogene that has spurred significant and long-lasting variation within a single species. ❋ Unknown (2009)
The retrogene is found in so many of these small dogs that Ostrander thinks it inserted into the genome of a common ancestor before the dogs separated into 20 different breeds or so. ❋ Unknown (2009)
In the case of short-legged dogs, the inserted retrogene results in the overproduction of the FGF4 protein, which researchers hypothesize may turn on key growth receptors at the wrong times during fetal development. ❋ Unknown (2009)
However, the dog findings are the first example of a retrogene that has spurred significant and long-lasting variation within a single species. ❋ Unknown (2009)
"We were surprised to find that just one retrogene inserted at one point during the evolution of a species could yield such a dramatic physical trait that has been conserved over time." ❋ Unknown (2009)
We were surprised to find that just one retrogene inserted at one point during the evolution of a species could yield such a dramatic physical trait that has been conserved over time, "said the study's first author, DR. ❋ Unknown (2009)