(Press-News.org) Contact information: Joe Caspermeyer
joseph.caspermeyer@asu.edu
480-258-8972
Molecular Biology and Evolution (Oxford University Press)
New sequencing tools give up close look at yeast evolution
Highlights in this week's Molecular Biology and Evolution
The baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been associated with human activities for thousands of years, being the primary biological agent in baking, brewing, winemaking and other fermentation processes. It is also one of the most important model organisms in molecular biology and genetics research. For a long time, the history and evolution of this important yeast has been a completely mystery, but recent advances in genome sequencing technologies now allow it to be studied in great detail.
Using next-generation sequencing, corresponding author Gianni Liti et. al. provide a detailed characterization of the genetic variation present within the baker's yeast species. They sequenced the genomes of 42 strains of S. cerevisiae and its closest relative S. paradoxus, which is an entirely wild species that has not had any contact with humans. A central finding of this study is that even though strains in S. paradoxus are separated by much greater genetic distances in terms of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the S. cerevisiae strain genomes harbor more variation in terms of absence and presence and copy number of genes. It has previously been observed that trait variation is also much larger in S. cerevisiae than in its wild relative. These new results therefore raise the intriguing hypothesis that this variation in the content of the genome, rather than single-nucleotide differences, underlies the large phenotypic variation in S. cerevisiae.
The authors find that the subtelomeric regions of the genomes, located just before the telomeres at each chromosome end, are highly enriched for genome variation that is likely to contribute to differences in traits between strains. This includes loss-of-function mutations that likely disrupt the function of whole genes. As an example of functional variation they describe how differences in the copy number of a subtelomeric gene cluster controls the ability of strains to grow under arsenic stress, and demonstrate that this variation is the product of convergent evolution in yeast lineages in different parts of the world.
"These genome sequences allowed us to expose surprising differences between the evolutionary histories of the common baker's yeast and its wild relative. Our results suggest that the very large diversity in traits observed between strains of baker's yeast might mostly be due to the presence or absence of entire genes rather than differences in single DNA letters."
The study provides intriguing insights into the recent history of this important organism and the relationship between genome variation and trait variation. Future research will further elucidate what role humans have played in shaping the evolution of baker's yeast, for example the extent to which the genomic variation is a consequence of yeast strains moving into novel habitats and niches opened up by human activities.
### END
New sequencing tools give up close look at yeast evolution
Highlights in this week's Molecular Biology and Evolution
2014-01-22
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
All FDA drug approvals not created equal
2014-01-22
All FDA drug approvals not created equal
Many patients and physicians assume that the safety and effectiveness of newly approved drugs is well understood by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) —but a new study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine shows ...
Hedges and edges help pigeons learn their way around
2014-01-22
Hedges and edges help pigeons learn their way around
A study has found that homing pigeons' ability to remember routes depends on the complexity of the landscape below, with hedges and boundaries between urban and rural areas ...
Large amounts of folic acid shown to promote growth of breast cancer in rats
2014-01-22
Large amounts of folic acid shown to promote growth of breast cancer in rats
Role of folate in development, progression of breast cancer highly controversial
TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2014---Folic acid supplements at levels consumed by breast cancer patients and survivors ...
Cochrane Review of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine
2014-01-22
Cochrane Review of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine
Cochrane review of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for treating uncomplicated malaria
'Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is more effective than artemether-lumefantrine, and has fewer side effects than artesunate-mefloquine' ...
Researchers identify innate channel that protects against pain
2014-01-22
Researchers identify innate channel that protects against pain
Scientists have identified a channel present in many pain detecting sensory neurons that acts as a 'brake', limiting spontaneous pain. It is hoped that the new research, published today ...
Study: Electric drive vehicles have little impact on US pollutant emissions
2014-01-22
Study: Electric drive vehicles have little impact on US pollutant emissions
A new study from North Carolina State University indicates that even a sharp increase in the use of electric drive passenger vehicles (EDVs) by 2050 would not significantly reduce ...
Study: 'Icy' technique improves robotic kidney transplants
2014-01-22
Study: 'Icy' technique improves robotic kidney transplants
DETROIT – A collaboration of surgeons at Henry Ford Hospital and Medanta Hospital in India successfully transplanted kidneys into 50 recipients using an innovative robot-assisted procedure in which ...
More diseases from air pollution uncovered by improved data material
2014-01-22
More diseases from air pollution uncovered by improved data material
At rest, we breathe approx. 12-15 times per minute, and for each inhalation we change approx. one litre of air. Depending on the activity level, this makes up a daily quantity in the order of twenty cubic metres ...
Understanding the functioning of a new type of solar cell
2014-01-21
Understanding the functioning of a new type of solar cell
Photovoltaic energy conversion offers one of the best means for the future of renewable energy in the world. The efficiency of solar cells depends heavily upon the light-absorbing materials ...
DNA barcodes change our view on how nature is structured
2014-01-21
DNA barcodes change our view on how nature is structured
How you seek is what you find
To understand how feeding interactions are structured, researchers from Finland and Canada chose to focus on one of the simplest food webs on Earth: the moths and butterflies ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Scientists develop an efficient method of producing proteins from E. coli
AAAS announces addition of Cancer Communications to Science Partner Journal Program
Systematic review reveals psilocybin reduces obsessive-compulsive behaviors across clinical and preclinical evidence
Emerging roles of neuromodulation in the management of treatment-resistant OCD
All prey are not the same: marine predators face uneven nutritional payoffs
What drives sleep problems in long-term care facilities?
New antibiotic for drug-resistant bacteria found hiding in plain sight
New mapping identifies urgent opportunities to strengthen Singapore’s children’s mental health ecosystem
New research reveals significant prevalence of valvular heart disease among older Americans
Outdoor air pollution linked to higher incidence of breast cancer
Thiophene-doped fully conjugated covalent organic frameworks for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production
Earth’s ‘boring billion years’ created the conditions for complex life
Health data for 57 million people in England show changing patterns of heart diseases before, during and after the pandemic
Cycling ‘near misses’ in London worst at rush hour and on roads without dedicated infrastructure
Roots in the dark: Russian scientists uncover hidden carbon dioxide uptake in plant roots
Biochar and hydrochar show contrasting climate effects in boreal grasslands
Turning trash into treasure: Scientists transform waste plastics into high-value carbon materials
Boys don’t cry? How picture books can teach gendered ideas about pain
In global collaboration, IU scientists unlock secrets to the building blocks of the universe
Young adults fear mass shootings but don’t necessarily support gun control
How unlocking ‘sticky’ chemistry may lead to better, cleaner fuels
Cutting balloon treatment prior to stent placement comparable to intravascular lithotripsy for patients with calcified coronary artery disease
Novel sirolimus-eluting balloon appears noninferior to conventional therapies for treatment of in-stent restenosis
Nearly half of US workers don’t know work experience could count toward a degree, according to University of Phoenix survey
Super-high-pressure non-compliant balloons for treatment of calcified coronary lesions noninferior to intravascular lithotripsy
Saudi Native Dr. Hani K. Najm named next vice president of the American College of Cardiology
Getting steps in one long walk a day cuts risk of death and CVD better than multiple short walks
The way you walk: 10–15 minute bouts of walking better for your cardiovascular health than shorter strolls
Beyond electronics: harnessing light for faster computing
Researchers find possible cause for increasing polarization
[Press-News.org] New sequencing tools give up close look at yeast evolutionHighlights in this week's Molecular Biology and Evolution