Phyloepigenetics
Traditionally, phylogenetic interspecies relationships are estimated based on genetic diversity, since it is assumed that the more recently diverged a species, with comparable constancy of development, the more similar their genetic material and proteins should be. However, occasional controversies...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/5/754 |
| _version_ | 1797501452233474048 |
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| author | Simeon Santourlidis |
| author_facet | Simeon Santourlidis |
| author_sort | Simeon Santourlidis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditionally, phylogenetic interspecies relationships are estimated based on genetic diversity, since it is assumed that the more recently diverged a species, with comparable constancy of development, the more similar their genetic material and proteins should be. However, occasional controversies in the field may reflect limited resolution and accuracy of this approach. Epigenetics has, meanwhile, provided significant evidence that CpG dinucleotides (CpGs) within genetic material are of particular importance for the annotation and function of the genome and the formation of the phenotype, which is continuously shaped by evolutionary interaction with environmental factors. Based on this, it can be concluded that CpGs follow a distinct rate of evolution, compared to all other nucleotide positions. Evidence is provided that supports this conclusion. Therefore, using CpGs to fathom evolutionary relationships between species could turn out to be a valuable approach to achieve, in some cases, an improved understanding of evolutionary development. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:18:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a3459b3862548c9946b6e39e3038cd6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:18:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a3459b3862548c9946b6e39e3038cd62023-11-23T10:07:59ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372022-05-0111575410.3390/biology11050754PhyloepigeneticsSimeon Santourlidis0Epigenetics Core Laboratory, Institute of Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Duesseldorf, GermanyTraditionally, phylogenetic interspecies relationships are estimated based on genetic diversity, since it is assumed that the more recently diverged a species, with comparable constancy of development, the more similar their genetic material and proteins should be. However, occasional controversies in the field may reflect limited resolution and accuracy of this approach. Epigenetics has, meanwhile, provided significant evidence that CpG dinucleotides (CpGs) within genetic material are of particular importance for the annotation and function of the genome and the formation of the phenotype, which is continuously shaped by evolutionary interaction with environmental factors. Based on this, it can be concluded that CpGs follow a distinct rate of evolution, compared to all other nucleotide positions. Evidence is provided that supports this conclusion. Therefore, using CpGs to fathom evolutionary relationships between species could turn out to be a valuable approach to achieve, in some cases, an improved understanding of evolutionary development.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/5/754epigeneticsDNA methylationevolutionphylogeneticsprimates |
| spellingShingle | Simeon Santourlidis Phyloepigenetics Biology epigenetics DNA methylation evolution phylogenetics primates |
| title | Phyloepigenetics |
| title_full | Phyloepigenetics |
| title_fullStr | Phyloepigenetics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phyloepigenetics |
| title_short | Phyloepigenetics |
| title_sort | phyloepigenetics |
| topic | epigenetics DNA methylation evolution phylogenetics primates |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/5/754 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT simeonsantourlidis phyloepigenetics |