Evolution and the Genome

A group of researchers from joined together in California to analyse the human genome and compare it to the chimpanzee genome. The goal was to look at gene conversions and recombination frequencies to analyze the process of evolution. In classical models it is found that mutation, recombination, and natural selection are the driving forces, this model uses a force called GC-biased gene conversion(gBGC). The basic principle is that recombination favor a (G/C) conversion over a (A/T) conversion. The (G/C) are the bases guanine and cytosine. The (A/T) are the based adenine and thymine. So when there is a mismatch and it is being resolved, the (G/C) bases are favored by natural processes.

The driving force for evolution in the model is a sub-group for recombination. Upon carrying out the experiment of applying the model to the human genome and chimpanzee genome, it was found that the human genome gBCG tracts show that the gene conversion has been a major player in the recent evolution in humans. If we could possibly control the re-combinations and the gene conversions which occur, we could possibly dictate human evolution.

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=cc3f334a-9743-4c1c-9b4b-6c1cfa5d9ec9%40sessionmgr14&vid=4&hid=28

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19630562

Reference
Capra JA, Hubisz MJ, Kostka D, Pollard KS, Siepel A (2013) A Model-Based Analysis of GC-Biased Gene Conversion in the Human and Chimpanzee Genomes. PLoS Genet 9(8): e1003684. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1003684