Evolution of complex bioluminescent traits may be predictable

Source: University of California- Santa Barbara

Author: Julie Cohen

Date: October 21, 2014

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141021135020.htm

Leah Mills

Summary:

 

Scientists have been asking whether evolution can be predicted. A team of researchers from University of California Santa Barbara may have found a introductory answer. The genetics of complex traits in cephalopods may in fact be predictable because they evolved in the same way in two distinct species of squid did. UCSB professor Todd Oakley and Ph.D. student Sabrina Pankey profiled  bioluminescent organs in 2 species of squid. And they found even though they evolved separately, they evolved in a very similar matter. Later, Oakley and vice chair of UCSB's Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marinebiology and Pankey leveraged advances in sequencing technology and cutting-edge genomic tools to test predictability in the evolution of biological light production. They then chose to work with the Hawaiian bobtail squid and the swordtip squid. They both contain the bioluminescent organs called photophores. Photophores contain a symbiotic, light emmiting bacteria. They then sequenced all the genes in the 2 species' organs to know how similar their genetic makeup was. The 2 organs evolved very similarily. They were able to tell this from their uncommon and unexpected genetic similarity. That means they both took very similar paths to be able to evolve these traits. They also showed that the global gene expression profiles (transcriptomes) underlying those organs are strikingly, even predictably similar. To confirm their finding and hypothesis, Oakley and Pankey got the help from statisticians from University of Washington and UCLA. And with their help, their hypothesis and finding were confirmed to be true. The results demonstrated that the evolution of overall gene expression underlying convergent complex traits may be predictable. And the probability of complex organs evolving so similarly, is astonishingly small, Oakley noted. These results will be able to help workers in the fields of evolution, genetics, genomics/bioinformatics, biomaterials, symbiosis, invertebrate zoology and evolutionary development.



Relevance:

This article is about the investigation of evolution of living things throughout time (specifically bioluminescent squid). As we said in class, one key characteristic of a living thing is that they change over time or evolve. It also talks about genetics which are also known as DNA or RNA. Both are made up of nucleotides which are chains or linked nucleic acids. Nucleic acids is one of the very important macromolecules of life as we learned. It also connects to the topic of cells. That's because as we learned, eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus and the nucleus is where all of the DNA or RNA is contained to carry out a cell's specific functions and characteristics. They also used the scientific process. They asked a question 1st, can evolution between species be predicted? Then, they created a hypothesis that yes, it can be predicted. After, they created multiple experiments and did many observations (like the 2 organs from the 2 species of squids). And then they analyzed their results and compared their observations. They even consulted the help of other scientists to conclude that their hypothesis was correct before formally stating that it was correct. Finally, they created and were able to state a conclusion, evolution of bioluminescent traits can be predicted.