研究调控基因进化的意义

熊荣川 选译

   调控基因的改变可以导致生物多个特征的协同进化，因为它们控制着一整套目标基因。调控基因发生很少的变化，就能导致发育模式、繁殖、或者生理上的显著而全面的改变，因为它们控制着由其它基因组成的功能网络。这些所谓的调控基因通常编码转录因子或者信号蛋白，其进化似乎经常以基因的复制进而分化为基础。

关键词：调控基因 转录因子 进化 复制 分化

原文

Coordinated evolution of complex characters can occur by altering regulatory genes that control large suites of effector genes. A small number of changes in these regulatory genes can result in conspicuous and harmonious changes in developmental pattern, reproduction, or physiology, because they co-opt entire functional networks of other genes. These evolving regulatory genes usually encode transcription factors or signaling proteins, and their evolution appears often to involve gene duplication and diversification.(Emerson et al., 2009)

参考文献：

Emerson Ryan O.,Thomas James H. (2009). "Adaptive Evolution in Zinc Finger Transcription Factors." PLoS Genet 5(1): e1000325.