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Open AccessThe molecular evolution of spermatogenesis across mammals
The testis produces gametes through spermatogenesis and evolves rapidly at both the morphological and molecular level in mammals1–6, probably owing to the evolutionary pressure on males to be reproductively succe...
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The emergence of the brain non-CpG methylation system in vertebrates
Mammalian brains feature exceptionally high levels of non-CpG DNA methylation alongside the canonical form of CpG methylation. Non-CpG methylation plays a critical regulatory role in cognitive function, which ...
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Transcriptome and translatome co-evolution in mammals
Gene-expression programs define shared and species-specific phenotypes, but their evolution remains largely uncharacterized beyond the transcriptome layer1. Here we report an analysis of the co-evolution of trans...
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Open AccessDifferential cohesin loading marks paired and unpaired regions of platypus sex chromosomes at prophase I
Cohesins are vital for chromosome organisation during meiosis and mitosis. In addition to the important function in sister chromatid cohesion, these complexes play key roles in meiotic recombination, DSB repai...
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Origins and functional evolution of Y chromosomes across mammals
Y chromosomes underlie sex determination in mammals, but their repeat-rich nature has hampered sequencing and associated evolutionary studies. Here we trace Y evolution across 15 representative mammals on the ...
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The evolution of lncRNA repertoires and expression patterns in tetrapods
Only a very small fraction of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are well characterized. The evolutionary history of lncRNAs can provide insights into their functionality, but the absence of lncRNA annotations in n...
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Open AccessRNA sequencing reveals sexually dimorphic gene expression before gonadal differentiation in chicken and allows comprehensive annotation of the W-chromosome
Birds have a ZZ male: ZW female sex chromosome system and while the Z-linked DMRT1 gene is necessary for testis development, the exact mechanism of sex determination in birds remains unsolved. This is partly due ...
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Open AccessInsights into the evolution of mammalian telomerase: Platypus TERT shares similarities with genes of birds and other reptiles and localizes on sex chromosomes
The TERT gene encodes the catalytic subunit of the telomerase complex and is responsible for maintaining telomere length. Vertebrate telomerase has been studied in eutherian mammals, fish, and the chicken, but le...
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Identification of mediator complex 26 (Crsp7) gametologs on platypus X1 and Y5 sex chromosomes: a candidate testis-determining gene in monotremes?
The basal lineage of monotremes features an extraordinarily complex sex chromosome system which has provided novel insights into the evolution of mammalian sex chromosomes. Recently, sequence information from ...
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The evolution of gene expression levels in mammalian organs
Changes in gene expression are thought to underlie many of the phenotypic differences between species. However, large-scale analyses of gene expression evolution were until recently prevented by technological ...
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Open AccessHigher-order genome organization in platypus and chicken sperm and repositioning of sex chromosomes during mammalian evolution
In mammals, chromosomes occupy defined positions in sperm, whereas previous work in chicken showed random chromosome distribution. Monotremes (platypus and echidnas) are the most basal group of living mammals....
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Erratum: Genome analysis of the platypus reveals unique signatures of evolution
Nature 453, 175–183 (2008) In this Article, Mikhail Nefedov and Pieter J. de Jong were omitted from the author list.
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Open AccessLoss of genes implicated in gastric function during platypus evolution
The duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) belongs to the mammalian subclass Prototheria, which diverged from the Theria line early in mammalian evolution. The platypus genome sequence provides a unique ...
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Characterizing the chromosomes of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
Like the unique platypus itself, the platypus genome is extraordinary because of its complex sex chromosome system, and is controversial because of difficulties in identification of small autosomes and sex chr...
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Open AccessThe multiple sex chromosomes of platypus and echidna are not completely identical and several share homology with the avian Z
Sex-determining systems have evolved independently in vertebrates. Placental mammals and marsupials have an XY system, birds have a ZW system. Reptiles and amphibians have different systems, including temperat...
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Open AccessDisruption and pseudoautosomal localization of the major histocompatibility complex in monotremes
The monotremes, represented by the duck-billed platypus and the echidnas, are the most divergent species within mammals, featuring a flamboyant mix of reptilian, mammalian and specialized characteristics. To u...
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An XX/XY sex microchromosome system in a freshwater turtle, Chelodina longicollis (Testudines: Chelidae) with genetic sex determination
Heteromorphic sex chromosomes are rare in turtles, having been described in only four species. Like many turtle species, the Australian freshwater turtle Chelodina longicollis has genetic sex determination, but n...
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In the platypus a meiotic chain of ten sex chromosomes shares genes with the bird Z and mammal X chromosomes
Two centuries after the duck-billed platypus was discovered, monotreme chromosome systems remain deeply puzzling. Karyotypes of males1, or of both sexes2,3,4, were claimed to contain several unpaired chromosomes ...
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Molecular cloning and characterization of the Fugu rubripes MEST/COPG2 imprinting cluster and chromosomal localization in Fugu and Tetraodon nigroviridis
We isolated Fugu genomic clones using the human MEST (Mesoderm-Specific Transcript) cDNA as probe. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of MEST and three additional genes which show homology to plant DNBP (DNA...
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Classical and Molecular Cytogenetics of the Pufferfish Tetraodon Nigroviridis
Because of its highly compact genome, the pufferfish has become an important animal model in genome research. Although the small chromosome size renders chromosome analysis difficult, we have established both ...
