Evolution has always been viewed as a complex, random and unpredictable process that shapes life on Earth in ways we cannot predict. What if there was more order than chaos? That’s what a team of scientists suggests in a new study.
Professor James McInerney and Dr. from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham. This research conducted by Alan Beaven hints that evolution may not be as random as we have long thought. Their research could have major implications in solving problems such as antibiotic resistance, disease, and even climate change.
Evolution, genes and pangenome
So what is this all about? The team analyzed the pangenome (all of a species’ genes) to see whether evolution followed the predicted path. They wanted to know: Is evolution just a series of coincidences, or is there a pattern influenced by the history of the genome?
What is pangenome?
In simple terms, a pangenome is the complete set of all genes within a species. It includes every gene found in all different strains or individuals, encompassing both common genes found in all of them (core genome) and unique genes found in only some (accessory genome). Thus, the pangenome represents the full genetic diversity of the species, despite the fact that individual representatives may have different genetic makeup.
Pan-genome analysis allows researchers to determine which genes are essential for survival and which have certain advantages, creating opportunities for new medical and environmental applications.
Requires a lot of computing power
The team used a machine learning approach called “Random Forest” to examine a massive dataset of 2,500 complete genomes from a single bacterial species. Machine learning algorithms like this are great at finding patterns that may be too complex or ambiguous for humans to discover on their own. It wasn’t a quick job; It required several hundred thousand hours of computer processing.
Evolution and “gene families”
First, “gene families” were created from each gene in each genome. Dr. from Nottingham Trent University. “This way we were able to compare the similarities between genomes,” said Maria Rosa Domingo-Sananes. After sequencing these families, they focused on genes and gene families within the genome.
Dr. “We found that some gene families do not appear in the genome at all, while another particular gene family is already there,” Domingo-Sananes said. “And in other cases, some genes were heavily dependent on the presence of another gene family.”
The ecosystem of hidden genes driving evolution
In other words, they discovered an invisible ecosystem in which genes either agree or conflict with each other, making evolution unpredictable.
Dr. “These interactions between genes make some aspects of evolution predictable, and what’s more, we now have a tool that allows us to make such predictions,” Domingo-Sananes added.
A paradigm shift
Professor McInerney, the study’s lead author, is at least excited about the possibilities.
“The results of this research are revolutionary,” he said. “By showing that evolution is not as random as we once thought, we have opened the door to a range of possibilities in synthetic biology, medicine and environmental science.”
real programs
These studies are not aimed at understanding evolution just for curiosity’s sake. This has real consequences that can significantly impact our lives. So how might this affect us in practice?
“With this study, we can begin to investigate which genes ‘maintain’ the antibiotic resistance gene, for example,” Beaven explained. “So if we are trying to eliminate antibiotic resistance, we can target not only the focal gene but also accessory genes.”
Fighting antibiotic resistance
This approach could fundamentally change the rules of combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. By understanding the network of genes working together, scientists can develop more effective treatments.
“We can use this approach to synthesize new types of genetic structures that can be used to develop new drugs or vaccines,” Beavan continued. “Knowing what we know now opened the door to a host of other discoveries.”
Consequences of climate change
The results of the research could also help combat climate change. By creating microorganisms that can sequester carbon or break down pollutants, we can develop new tools to reduce our impact on the environment.
Development of personalized medicine
Predictability of gene interactions could also revolutionize personalized medicine. Imagine if doctors could predict how a disease might progress in your body or what treatments would work best for you, based on your genetic makeup. This research may bring us one step closer to that reality.
Evolution, gene manipulation and the future
In summary, this new research changes the way we think about evolution. Rather than viewing this as a series of random events, the research suggests there is a level of predictability tied to gene families and genetic history.
This is a hugely important event for many other reasons, besides the fact that it turns everything we thought we knew about evolution since Charles Darwin came onto the scene.
This discovery means we can predict and even control evolutionary change in ways we never thought possible.
The practical applications are huge. From developing new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance to creating organisms that can help combat climate change, the possibilities are exciting. The idea that we can target not only harmful genes but also their “protection” opens new horizons in medicine and environmental science.
Overall, this research encourages us to rethink some basic assumptions about life and evolution. This is no longer just a coincidence; There is orderliness and order that we can touch.
Who knows what other doors will open as you learn more? It’s an exciting time to be alive and an exciting time to be a scientist. The full text of the research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Source: Port Altele