A mutation for Curly Hair: A genetic study of coat type in purebred dogs has identified a mutation in
the keratin gene, KRT71, associated with the curly hair phenotype in some breeds (1).
Greenwold, graduate student Weier Bao and Sawyer analyzed the avian genomes and published an accompanying paper in BMC Evolutionary Biology that shows correlations between the number of beta -
keratin gene copies and the birds» lifestyles.
Sawyer and Greenwold made the case in an earlier paper that the expansion and elaboration of the feather beta -
keratin gene coincides with the evolution of the feather itself, from a simple body covering to a sophisticated assembly of interconnected working parts that make powered flight, among other competitive advantages, possible.
The unifying theme, though, is the abundance of feather beta -
keratin genes, which make up more than 50 percent of the copies of the several beta - keratin subtypes in all the birds studied.
And as part of the international team that recently published full genomes of 48 birds in Science magazine, Greenwold and Sawyer showed that the number of scale, claw and feather beta -
keratin genes is highly variable among all birds.
When he and colleagues searched the genomes of a lizard and a chicken, they found several previously unidentified cysteine - rich hair -
keratin genes, some of them exclusive to the reptile - bird group.
As such, scientists have speculated that hair -
keratin genes emerged after mammals split off from other animals.
Not exact matches
So far, scientists have found that different populations of living humans have inherited the Neandertal version of
genes that cause diabetes, lupus, and Crohn's disease; alter immune function; and affect the function of the protein
keratin in skin, nails, and hair.
In addition, researchers found that the
gene families related to whale's body hair and sensory receptors were contracted, such as
Keratin - related
gene families associated with hair formation, several Hox
genes that play an important role in the body plan and embryonic development.
Among the areas where the researchers have seen intriguing dissimilarities between humans and gorillas are in
genes associated with sensory perception,
keratin (a skin protein) production, insulin regulation, immunity, reproduction and cell signaling.
One of these, in the
keratin 5 (KRT5)
gene on chromosome 12, leads to a subtle but potentially damaging alteration to the KRT5 protein, which supports the structural integrity of the skin.