Retroviral Impact on Mammalian Placenta Evolution

Retroviral Impact on Mammalian Placenta Evolution PDF Author: Edward Bo-yi Chuong
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The placenta plays a fundamental role supporting pregnancy in all mammals, but exhibits unexpected and striking morphological and physiological variation across species. The rapid evolutionary diversification of the mammalian placenta is hypothesized to be a product of recurrent genetic conflict between parent and offspring. In this work, I investigate the genetic basis of rapid placenta evolution by using high-throughput genomic approaches, and address three major issues in placental biology. First, given that highly conserved genes govern placental development, the molecular mechanisms underlying the rapid diversification of placental morphology have remained unresolved. Our study reveals that the genome-wide regulatory landscape of placental development is highly divergent between closely related species, strongly implicating non-coding regulatory evolution as the major force driving placental morphological diversity. Second, endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) that are normally repressed throughout the embryo are rampantly expressed in the placenta, but the biological rationale--if any-- behind this apparent paradox has been unclear. We demonstrate that species-specific ERVs serve as a major source of functional enhancers during placental development, which provides a clear mechanism where placental ERV activity may facilitate the evolutionary diversification of placental morphology. Finally, our findings suggest a novel evolutionary model where placental ERVs provide an adaptive benefit under parent-offspring conflict. Given that genetic conflict predicts rapid diversifying evolution to maintain maximal fitness, we propose that placental ERVs act to dramatically increase the developmental evolvability of the placenta by serving as a rapidly evolving, epigenetically restricted source of polymorphic regulatory elements.

Retroviral Impact on Mammalian Placenta Evolution

Retroviral Impact on Mammalian Placenta Evolution PDF Author: Edward Bo-yi Chuong
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description
The placenta plays a fundamental role supporting pregnancy in all mammals, but exhibits unexpected and striking morphological and physiological variation across species. The rapid evolutionary diversification of the mammalian placenta is hypothesized to be a product of recurrent genetic conflict between parent and offspring. In this work, I investigate the genetic basis of rapid placenta evolution by using high-throughput genomic approaches, and address three major issues in placental biology. First, given that highly conserved genes govern placental development, the molecular mechanisms underlying the rapid diversification of placental morphology have remained unresolved. Our study reveals that the genome-wide regulatory landscape of placental development is highly divergent between closely related species, strongly implicating non-coding regulatory evolution as the major force driving placental morphological diversity. Second, endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) that are normally repressed throughout the embryo are rampantly expressed in the placenta, but the biological rationale--if any-- behind this apparent paradox has been unclear. We demonstrate that species-specific ERVs serve as a major source of functional enhancers during placental development, which provides a clear mechanism where placental ERV activity may facilitate the evolutionary diversification of placental morphology. Finally, our findings suggest a novel evolutionary model where placental ERVs provide an adaptive benefit under parent-offspring conflict. Given that genetic conflict predicts rapid diversifying evolution to maintain maximal fitness, we propose that placental ERVs act to dramatically increase the developmental evolvability of the placenta by serving as a rapidly evolving, epigenetically restricted source of polymorphic regulatory elements.

The Human Placenta

The Human Placenta PDF Author: C. Redman
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
ISBN: 9780632027217
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 608

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Book Description
The placenta is fascinating and complex. Basically foreign to the maternal body, it can be thought of as an organ transplanted onto the mother's host tissue. As such it embodies all the principles of tissue acceptance and rejection. Many of the risks of pregnancy and labor have now been eliminated and the placenta is likely to be at the root of many of the dangers to the unborn child that remain. A breakdown of the relationship between the placenta and the maternal tissue may turn out to be the cause of the majority of early lost pregnancies.

Placental Bed Disorders

Placental Bed Disorders PDF Author: Robert Pijnenborg
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139488686
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 325

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Book Description
It is now recognized that defective placentation in the human is a cause of many pregnancy complications, such as spontaneous abortion, preterm labor and delivery, pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, fetal death and abruptio placenta. These clinical disorders can often have long-term consequences into adulthood, causing cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes for the newborn as well as an increased risk of premature death in the mother. This is the first book to be entirely focused on the placental bed, bringing together the results of basic and clinical research in cell biology, immunology, endocrinology, pathology, genetics and imaging to consolidate in a single, informative source for investigators and clinicians. Its core aim is to explore new approaches and improve current clinical practice. This is essential reading for clinicians in obstetric, cardiovascular and reproductive medicine.

Genomic Imprinting

Genomic Imprinting PDF Author: R. Ohlsson
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521472432
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description
This significant new publication on genomic or parental imprinting has been prepared by an outstanding team of international authorities. Genomic imprinting results in the preferential expression of one allele, depending on the parent of origin. It is associated with several disease syndromes in humans. Interest in this area has expanded rapidly from the time when it was first recognised that some important hereditary characterisitics were not adequately explained by the Mendelian laws of inheritance. The chapters cover a wealth of material to help explain not only the mechanisms of genomic imprinting but its biological and medical consequences.

Origin and Evolution of Viruses

Origin and Evolution of Viruses PDF Author: Esteban Domingo
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0080564968
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 573

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Book Description
New viral diseases are emerging continuously. Viruses adapt to new environments at astounding rates. Genetic variability of viruses jeopardizes vaccine efficacy. For many viruses mutants resistant to antiviral agents or host immune responses arise readily, for example, with HIV and influenza. These variations are all of utmost importance for human and animal health as they have prevented us from controlling these epidemic pathogens. This book focuses on the mechanisms that viruses use to evolve, survive and cause disease in their hosts. Covering human, animal, plant and bacterial viruses, it provides both the basic foundations for the evolutionary dynamics of viruses and specific examples of emerging diseases. NEW - methods to establish relationships among viruses and the mechanisms that affect virus evolution UNIQUE - combines theoretical concepts in evolution with detailed analyses of the evolution of important virus groups SPECIFIC - Bacterial, plant, animal and human viruses are compared regarding their interation with their hosts

Transposable Elements and Evolution

Transposable Elements and Evolution PDF Author: J. F. McDonald
Publisher: Springer
ISBN:
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 366

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Book Description
In the summer of 1992 a distinguished group of molecular, population and evolutionary geneticists assembled on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens, USA to discuss the relevance of their research to the role played by transposable elements (TEs) in evolution. The meeting consisted of a series of informal discussions of issues brought up in papers written by the participants and distributed among them prior to the meeting. These papers and the transcripts of the ensuing discussions are presented in this volume.

The Placenta and Human Developmental Programming

The Placenta and Human Developmental Programming PDF Author: Graham J. Burton
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139494228
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 267

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Book Description
Developmental programming is a rapidly advancing discipline of great importance to basic scientists and health professionals alike. This text integrates, for the first time, contributions from world experts to explore the role of the placenta in developmental programming. The book considers the materno-fetal supply line, and how perturbations of placental development impact on its functional capacity. Chapters examine ways in which environmental, immunological and vascular insults regulate expression of conventional and imprinted genes, along with their impact on placental shape and size, transport, metabolism and endocrine function. Research in animal models is integrated with human clinical and epidemiological data, and questions for future research are identified. Transcripts of discussions between the authors allow readers to engage with controversial issues. Essential reading for researchers in placental biology and developmental programming, as well as specialists and trainees in the wider field of reproductive medicine.

Viruses and the Evolution of Life

Viruses and the Evolution of Life PDF Author: Luis P. Villarreal
Publisher: Amer Society for Microbiology
ISBN: 9781555813093
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 395

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Book Description
Viruses and the Evolution of Life is an intriguing presentation of the virus–host relationship, as revealed through an examination of host evolution. This new volume avails the informed reader of a new perspective on the evolution of life while targeting the expert reader with discussions of specific scientific literature. Addresses the adaptation and evolution of viruses and, more importantly, the role of viruses in evolutionary biology Develops integrated themes for study of virology Contributes valuable information to the understanding of the virus–host relationship Integrates the relationship between genetic parasites found in host genomes with the virology of the host Communicates basic principles to the informed reader while presenting a scholarly evaluation of literature to challenge the specialist Written by one of the foremost experts in the field

A Planet of Viruses

A Planet of Viruses PDF Author: Carl Zimmer
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022632026X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 133

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Book Description
For years, scientists have been warning us that a pandemic was all but inevitable. Now it's here, and the rest of us have a lot to learn. Fortunately, science writer Carl Zimmer is here to guide us. In this compact volume, he tells the story of how the smallest living things known to science can bring an entire planet of people to a halt--and what we can learn from how we've defeated them in the past. Planet of Viruses covers such threats as Ebola, MERS, and chikungunya virus; tells about recent scientific discoveries, such as a hundred-million-year-old virus that infected the common ancestor of armadillos, elephants, and humans; and shares new findings that show why climate change may lead to even deadlier outbreaks. Zimmer’s lucid explanations and fascinating stories demonstrate how deeply humans and viruses are intertwined. Viruses helped give rise to the first life-forms, are responsible for many of our most devastating diseases, and will continue to control our fate for centuries. Thoroughly readable, and, for all its honesty about the threats, as reassuring as it is frightening, A Planet of Viruses is a fascinating tour of a world we all need to better understand.

Life's Vital Link

Life's Vital Link PDF Author: Y.W. Loke
Publisher: Oxford University Press (UK)
ISBN: 0199694516
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 275

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Book Description
How does the foetus - a foreign body - survive inside the mother? The placenta is the extraordinary organ that allows this to happen; but this remarkable feat of evolution is only just being fully appreciated by science. Y.W. Loke explores the fascinating nature of the placenta and what it can tell us about evolution, development, and genetics.