The evolution of de novo human-specific microRNA genes on chromosome 21

[swamidass (S. Joshua Swamidass)]

https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/news/search-source-our-evolutionary-distinctiveness-john-jay-college-student-researchers-discover

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.24504

From our very own @NLENTS .

The genetic basis of human uniqueness remains one of the most enduring mysteries in biological anthropology. The goal of this research project was to identify, characterize, and infer the origin and function of novel elements in the human genome that are not functionally shared with other apes. Our approach toward this goal was to utilize a variety of genome alignment tools to discover islands of non-conserved DNA sequences, followed by theoretical and computational analysis of those regions using synteny sequence analysis. We discovered families of microRNA genes on human chromosome 21 with no detectable orthologs in the other African apes. We then developed a working model of their origin through repeated rounds of segmental duplication occurring within an array of rRNA genes. Target prediction reveals potential roles for these microRNA genes in the embryonic development of the central nervous system. We conclude that the 21p11 region of human chromosome 21 has undergone segmental duplication events that generated de novo microRNA genes from within a field of rRNA genes. These microRNA genes may have played a role in the unique evolutionary trajectory of the human lineage through their modulation of genes involved in embryonic development.

[NLENTS (Nathan H. Lents)]

.

[Joel_Duff (R. Joel Duff)]

Shockingly:-) ICR says this research provides more evidence against human evolution. More Unique Human Genes Defy Evolution Narrative | The Institute for Creation Research

[swamidass (S. Joshua Swamidass)]

That’s interesting that they picked up on this article in particular

[NLENTS (Nathan H. Lents)]

Whoa. That’s a really strange takeaway of this work. Firstly, I guess they skipped over the part of the paper that discusses how one of the miRNA gene families appears nonfunctional. Secondly, this paper isn’t announcing the discovery of these genes, nor even their lack of orthologs in other apes. They were known as human-specific for some time. This paper describes the likely evolutionary origin of the genes. So, you know, the opposite of what they say here.