SGER: Isolation and Characterization of Rapidly-Evolving Human Genes

SGER：快速进化的人类基因的分离和表征

• 批准号: 9009500
• 负责人: Maryellen Ruvolo
• 金额: $ 4万
• 依托单位: Harvard University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1990
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1990-08-01 至 1993-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9009500&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SGER; Isolation; Characterization; Rapidly; Evolving

A surprising fact that has emerged in recent years is the great degree of genetic similarity between humans and chimpanzees. Ninety-eight percent of human single-copy DNA (the inherited genetic material) is so similar to chimpanzee DNA that it forms hybrid human-chimpanzee DNA molecules when mixed together under appropriate conditions in a test tube. Dr. Ruvolo will study the 2% of human DNA which does not form hybrid molecules with chimpanzee DNA. Because only a fraction of all DNA consists of genes (protein-coding units), the first question to answer is whether there are any genes in this 2% "human- specific" DNA fraction. If there are, they will be characterized by DNA sequencing. If not, then the genes most different between humans and chimpanzees can still be isolated from the other 98% of human DNA and similarly characterized by DNA sequencing. In either case, Dr. Ruvolo will isolate those genes maximally different between humans and chimpanzees. These DNA sequences will be compared with all known DNA sequences by computer search techniques to test whether, and in what way, they resemble any known genes. This research is important because it develops a general method for identifying genes maximally different between closely- related species. Such genes are useful in population biology and in systematics for determining how groups and species are related to one another. Extension of this method may allow isolation of genes common to groups of organisms, such as "primate-specific" or "mammal-specific" genes. Isolation of the most rapidly- evolving genes in humans can help partition the human genome into ancient and modern segments.

近年来出现的一个令人惊讶的事实是， 人类之间的基因相似性很高， 黑猩猩 98%的人类单拷贝DNA（ 遗传物质）与黑猩猩的DNA如此相似， 当它与黑猩猩的DNA分子混合时， 在适当的条件下在试管中一起。 鲁沃洛医生 将研究2%的不能形成杂交的人类DNA 黑猩猩DNA的分子。 因为只有一小部分 DNA由基因（蛋白质编码单位）组成， 要回答的是，在这2%的“人类”中， 特异性”DNA片段。 如果有的话， 通过DNA测序。 如果不是，那么基因之间最不同的是 人类和黑猩猩仍然可以与其他98%的 人类DNA，并通过DNA测序进行类似表征。 在 无论哪种情况鲁沃洛博士都会尽可能地 人类和黑猩猩之间的差异。 这些DNA序列 将通过计算机搜索与所有已知的DNA序列进行比较 技术，以测试是否，以及以何种方式，他们类似于任何 已知基因 这项研究很重要，因为它开发了一个通用的 用于鉴定在接近的基因之间最大不同的基因的方法， 相关物种 这些基因在种群生物学中是有用的， 在分类学中用来确定群体和物种之间的关系 彼此联系。 该方法的扩展可以允许分离 生物群体共有的基因，如“灵长类特有的” 或“哺乳动物特有”基因。 最迅速的隔离- 人类基因的进化可以帮助人类基因组划分为 古代和现代的部分。