How Did Irish Researchers Discover New Introns in Worm Genomes?

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In summary, Irish researchers have discovered 122 new introns in the genomes of two worm species, C. elegans and C. briggsae, which have diverged 80 to 120 million years ago. These new findings shed light on how introns arise and spread among genes. The researchers used BLAST to identify these introns, which are less than 100 million years old.
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Team finds "newborn" introns by comparing C. elegans and C. briggsae genomes | By Nicole Johnston

Irish researchers have discovered 122 novel introns that appeared in the genomes of Caenorhabditis elegans and Caenorhabditis briggsae since the two species diverged 80 to 120 million years ago, shedding light on how new introns arise and are subsequently spread among genes.

The genomes of both worms contain roughly 100,000 introns, of which more than 6000 are unique to one species or the other. Kenneth Wolfe and Avril Coghlan identified 81 new introns in C. elegans and 41 new introns in C. briggsae. Of these, 13 are found in genes implicated in premRNA processing, the authors report in the June 28 PNAS early online edition.

"We used BLAST [Basic Local Alignment Search Tool] to identify orthologous genes across all the species (animal and nematode), and by comparison of all genes, we were able to find intron sites present in one of the nematodes, but absent in all other species," Wolfe, from Trinity College Dublin, told The Scientist. "We therefore inferred that these gained introns must be less than 100 million years old."

http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040629/01
 
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I like that article, true. (smile)
 
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The discovery of novel introns in the genomes of C. elegans and C. briggsae by Irish researchers is an exciting development in the field of genetics. By comparing the genomes of these two worm species, the team was able to identify 122 new introns, shedding light on how these genetic elements arise and are spread among genes. This research not only adds to our understanding of the evolution of these organisms, but also has implications for understanding the role of introns in gene regulation and RNA processing. By utilizing BLAST, the team was able to identify these new intron sites and infer that they are relatively recent additions to the genomes, providing valuable insights into the dynamic nature of these genetic elements. Overall, this study highlights the power of comparative genomics in uncovering new information and advancing our understanding of complex biological processes.
 

Related to How Did Irish Researchers Discover New Introns in Worm Genomes?

1. What are introns and why are they important?

Introns are non-coding sequences of DNA found within genes. They are important because they play a crucial role in gene expression and regulation, and their presence can affect the structure and function of proteins produced by a gene.

2. How do worms reveal insights about introns?

Worms, specifically the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, have a relatively simple genome compared to other organisms and have been extensively studied by scientists. This makes them a useful model for studying introns and their functions, as well as how they have evolved over time.

3. What have we learned about introns from studying worms?

Through studying worms, scientists have gained insights into the evolution of introns and their functions. They have also identified conserved elements within introns that play a role in gene regulation and alternative splicing. Additionally, worms have been used to study the effects of intron mutations and how they may contribute to disease.

4. How do introns impact gene expression?

Introns can impact gene expression in various ways. They can act as regulatory elements that control when and how much of a protein is produced, and they can also affect the splicing of RNA transcripts. In some cases, introns may even be necessary for proper gene expression and protein function.

5. What are the potential applications of understanding introns?

Understanding introns can have many potential applications, including improving our understanding of genetic diseases and finding new ways to treat them. It can also aid in the development of genetic engineering techniques and biotechnology tools. Additionally, studying introns may lead to a better understanding of the evolution of genes and genomes.

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