摘要: Evolutionary trees were derived from the keratin protein sequences using Phylogeny Analysis Using Parsimony (PAUP) set of programs. Three major unexpected conclusions analysis: The smallest subunit, K#19 (Moll et al. 1982), is not most primitive one, but has evolved to fulfill a highly specialized function, presumably redress unbalanced synthesis subunits. Second, ancestors keratins expressed in early embryonic stages, K#8 and K#18, first diverge all other keratins. branches leading these two are relatively short, indicating comparatively strong selection against changes proteins. Third, families show extraordinary parallelism their patterns gene duplications. In both genes embryos diverged first, later bursts duplications created subfamilies various differentiated cells, recent gave rise hair separated basal cell-specific those under hyperproliferative conditions. implies mechanism which one family influence duplication events family.