Evolutionary analysis of sequences expressed in tumors

Abstract

Earlier we have identified a new class of human genomic sequences expressed preferentially in tumors. Here we use a comparative genomics approach and conservation analysis to study evolutionary specificity of nine human tumor-specific sequences, described previously. Three sequences had originated in the primate lineage. The other three had mammalian orthologs, but conservation analysis has shown that these sequences evolved neutrally. Three sequences were conservative. These data confirm previously formulated hypothesis that evolutionarily new genes are expressed in tumors.