A new study of human embryos has pinpointed the window in embryonic development during which the pelvis begins to look humanlike and identified hundreds of genes and regulatory RNA regions that drive this transformation.
The wide, basin-shaped human pelvis is a defining physical feature of our species. Without it, we couldn’t walk upright or give birth to big-brained babies. Now, a new study of human embryos has pinpointed the window in embryonic development during which the pelvis begins to look humanlike and identified hundreds of genes and regulatory RNA regions that drive this transformation. Many bear the hallmarks of strong natural selection for bipedalism, the authors conclude.
The pelvic girdle in primates consists of three major parts: blade-shaped bones, called ilia, that fan out to form the hips and, below those, two tube-shaped fused bones known as the pubis and ischium, which give shape to the birth canal. Great apes have relatively elongated ilia that lie flat against the back of the animals, as well as relatively narrow birth canals. Humans have shorter, rounded ilia that flare out and curve around.
Next, the researchers extracted RNA from different regions of the embryos’ pelvises to see which genes were active at different developmental stages. Then, they identified hundreds of human genes within specific pelvic sections whose activity seemed turned up or down during the first trimester. Of these, 261 genes were in the ilium.
“We think this is really pointing to the origins of bipedalism in our genome,” Capellini says of his team’s work.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
These Arctic Fish Are Full of AntifreezeSnailfish off the coast of Greenland have evolved a clever trick to live in icy water.
Les mer »
Live-seq: Sequencing a cell without killing itRNA sequencing allows scientists to study the expression of genes in a cell. Since messenger RNA (mRNA) is generated from a DNA gene, that information can be used to identify the original gene sequence and thus measure the activity of thousands of genes (i.e. the transcriptome) in these cells.
Les mer »
Seattle to clean up stretch of Interurban Trail filled with encampments, trashNeighbors told KIRO 7 that people have changed their walking patterns to avoid the area.
Les mer »
Fishing boat runs aground near WestportThe six people on board the grounded boat walked to shore.
Les mer »
Hit-Boy's Storied Career Led Him To The Swingy Sound Of Nas's 'Ultra Black'The rapper-producer walks us through his highlights for 'The Method,' including that 'legendary' Nas moment
Les mer »
How David Lynch Approaches the Nature of Evil in ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me’30 years later, a look back on how David Lynch's TwinPeaksFireWalkWithMe shows the ways that evil exploits good.
Les mer »