Evolution in a test tube: the hatchet before the scalpel.
Gene duplication provides an organism with a rich source of genetic material for tinkering by selection during evolution. In this issue, Rancati et al. (2008) report that extensive polyploidy and aneuploidy are the initial evolutionary changes in yeast selected in vitro to overcome defects resulting from the loss of a myosin II protein crucial for normal cytokinesis.
Rando
Oliver J
OJ
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA. oliver.rando@umassmed.edu
D000782:Aneuploidy; D002460:Cell Line; D019020:Directed Molecular Evolution; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*