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Genomic convergence drove the rise of land animals

Originally Published 2 months ago — by Nature

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Source: Nature

The study reveals that independent terrestrialization events in animals involved convergent genomic adaptations, including gene gains and losses related to osmoregulation, stress response, immunity, and sensory functions, with three major temporal windows identified during Earth's history, highlighting both predictable and lineage-specific evolutionary responses to land colonization.

Helicase Role in SSU Processome Maturation and Disassembly

Originally Published 2 months ago — by Nature

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Source: Nature

The article explores the helicase-mediated mechanisms involved in the maturation and disassembly of the small subunit (SSU) processome during ribosome biogenesis, revealing high-resolution structures and interactions that coordinate RNA processing, quality control, and particle disassembly in the nucleolus.

Mapping Plasmodium Dynamics in Female Anopheles Mosquitoes

Originally Published 2 months ago — by Nature

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Source: Nature

This study uses dual single-cell RNA sequencing to map the development of P. falciparum in the mosquito midgut, revealing key stages, interactions with mosquito cells, and potential targets for malaria control, including validation of essential parasite genes and discovery of interactions with mosquito progenitor cells and muscles.

Mapping Yeast Genomes to Predict Trait Variations and Mutations

Originally Published 2 months ago — by Nature

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Source: Nature

This study assembled near telomere-to-telomere genomes for 1,086 yeast isolates, revealing extensive structural variation and gene content diversity, and demonstrated that structural variants are more frequently associated with phenotypic traits and exhibit greater pleiotropy than SNPs, significantly advancing our understanding of the genetic basis of phenotypic diversity in yeast.

Human-Specific Regulatory Mechanism Identified in Early Embryo Development

Originally Published 3 months ago — by Nature

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Source: Nature

The study uncovers a human-specific regulatory mechanism involving endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), particularly HERVK LTR5Hs, which influence gene expression and lineage specification during early human development, using a stem cell-based blastoid model. Repression of LTR5Hs impairs blastoid formation, alters lineage allocation, and affects the expression of key genes like ZNF729, a human-specific gene regulated by a nearby LTR5Hs insertion that is essential for blastoid formation and proliferation. The work highlights the evolutionary role of ERVs as enhancers shaping human-specific developmental features.