Swap sweep theory
Evolution of a Fruit Fly, Evolution of a Human
22/09/10 18:19 Filed in: GenomeWeb Daily Scan
Researchers at UC Irvine have published research results with fruit flies that confirm the so-called "soft sweep" theory of evolutionary that the exploitation of small differences in many different genes were responsible for the emergence of new traits, rather that a large mutation in single genes. "If complex traits, including susceptibility to disease, are influenced by tens or hundreds of genes, then treatments targeted to single genes won't be very effective". S. Pelech questions the applicability of studies with flies that can bred after 8.5 days with humans that must be about 12 years old before they are capable of reproduction, but notes that it is already well appreciated that many genes influence complex traits, and susceptibility to diseases does not arise from just a few genes. Read More...