More evidence for the very real phenomenon of convergent evolution. The 6 different electric fish lineages have independently evolved electric organs that help them to communicate, navigate, hunt, and defend themselves. New research has come forth that involved analyzing the genome of the electric eel and the genes expressed in two other distantly related electric fish. They found that the same genes were recruited within the different species to make evolutionarily new structures that function similarly. The definition of convergent evolution. Little is known about the genetic basis of convergent traits that originate repeatedly over broad taxonomic scales. The myogenic electric organ has evolved six times in fishes to produce electric fields used in communication, navigation, predation, or defense. We have examined the genomic basis of the convergent anatomical and physiological origins of these organs by assembling the genome of the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) and sequencing electric organ and skeletal muscle transcriptomes from three lineages that have independently evolved electric organs. Our results indicate that, despite millions of years of evolution and large differences in the morphology of electric organ cells, independent lineages have leveraged similar transcription factors and developmental and cellular pathways in the evolution of electric organs. sciencemag.org/content/344/6191/1522.full
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 00:01:04 +0000
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