Convergent evolution: pick your poison carefully.
Genomic and biochemical analyses reveal that two independently evolved serine protease venoms in mammals and lizards have converged on nearly identical protein structures. Likewise, in two groups of frog, an identical toxin, caerulein, has arisen repeatedly from unique genes in those lineages.
Brodie
Edmund D
ED
Mountain Lake Biological Station, Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA. bbrodie@virginia.edu
D000220:Adaptation, Biological / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008116:Lizards / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D057057:Serine Proteases / Q000235:genetics*; D012788:Shrews / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014688:Venoms / Q000235:genetics*
D014688:Venoms; D057057:Serine Proteases