Rapid Evolution of Genes Involved in Learning and Energy Metabolism for Domestication of the Laboratory Rat.
Mol Biol Evol
; 34(12): 3148-3153, 2017 Dec 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28961982
ABSTRACT
The laboratory rat, widely used in biomedical research, is domesticated from wild brown rat. The origin and genetic mechanism underlying domestication of the laboratory rat remain largely elusive. In the present study, large scale genomes supported a single origin for the laboratory rat, possibly from a sister group to wild rats from Europe/Africa/Middle East. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses uncovered many artificially selected genes (e.g., FOXP2, B3GAT1, and CLOCK) involved in the nervous system. These genes associate with learning ability and regulation of circadian rhythm, which likely enabled the successful domestication of the laboratory rat. Particularly, many genes, including mitochondrial genes responsible for energy metabolism, displayed a substantially increased expression in the brain of laboratory rats compared with wild rats. Our findings demystify the origin and evolution of this model animal, and provide insight into the process of its domestication.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Ratas
/
Animales Domésticos
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mol Biol Evol
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
China