Mutational bias provides a model for the evolution of Huntington's disease and predicts a general increase in disease prevalence.
Nat Genet
; 7(4): 525-30, 1994 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-7951324
ABSTRACT
Huntington's disease (HD) correlates with abnormal expansion in a block of CAG repeats in the Huntington's disease gene. We have investigated HD evolution by typing CAG alleles in several human populations and in a variety of primates. We find that human alleles have expanded from a shorter ancestral state and exhibit unusual asymmetric length distributions. Computer simulations are used to show that the human state can be derived readily from a primate ancestor, without the need to invoke natural selection. The key element is a simple length-dependent mutational bias towards longer alleles. Our model can explain a number of empirical observations, and predicts an ever-increasing incidence of HD.
Search on Google
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Enfermedad de Huntington
/
Evolución Biológica
/
Modelos Genéticos
/
Mutación
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Año:
1994
Tipo del documento:
Article