title: The role of gene regulatory factors in the evolutionary history of humans.
abstract: Deciphering the molecular basis of how modern human phenotypes have evolved is one of the most fascinating challenges in biology. Here, we will focus on the roles of gene regulatory factors (GRFs), in particular transcription factors (TFs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) during human evolution. We will present examples of TFs and lncRNAs that have changed or show signs of positive selection in humans compared to chimpanzees, in modern humans compared to archaic humans, or within modern human populations. On the basis of current knowledge about the functions of these GRF genes, we speculate that they have been involved in speciation as well as in shaping phenotypes such as brain functions, skeletal morphology, and metabolic processes.
authors.affiliation: TFome Research Group, Bioinformatics Group, Interdisciplinary Center of Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Leipzig, Härtelstrasse 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany; Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Jahnallee 59, D-04109 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perdomo-Sabogal
authors.affiliation: TFome Research Group, Bioinformatics Group, Interdisciplinary Center of Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Leipzig, Härtelstrasse 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany; Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Jahnallee 59, D-04109 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanton
authors.affiliation: TFome Research Group, Bioinformatics Group, Interdisciplinary Center of Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Leipzig, Härtelstrasse 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany; Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Jahnallee 59, D-04109 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria Beatriz C
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.affiliation: TFome Research Group, Bioinformatics Group, Interdisciplinary Center of Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Leipzig, Härtelstrasse 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany; Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Jahnallee 59, D-04109 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: nowick@bioinf.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nowick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D014157:Transcription Factors