In silico evolution of the hunchback gene indicates redundancy in cis-regulatory organization and spatial gene expression.

摘要: Biological development depends on the coordinated expression of genes in time and space. Developmental have extensive cis-regulatory regions which control their expression. These are organized a modular manner, with different modules controlling at times locations. Both how modularity evolved what function it serves open questions. We present computational model for cis-regulation hunchback (hb) gene fruit fly (Drosophila). simulate evolution (using an evolutionary computation approach from computer science) to find optimal arrangements fitting experimental hb patterns. that region tends readily evolve modularity. (CRMs) do not tend single spatial domains, but show multi-CRM/multi-domain correspondence. CRM-domain correspondence seen Drosophila evolves high probability our model, supporting biological relevance approach. The partial redundancy resulting multi-CRM may confer some robustness against corruption regulatory sequences. technique developed could be applied other developmental genes.