The smallest avian genomes are found in hummingbirds

Gregory, T. Ryan; Andrews, Chandler B. AndrewsC.B.; McGuire, Jimmy A.; Witt, Christopher C.

doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.1004

Cited by 47 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(45 reference statements)

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“…Genome size variation between bird species has been linked to variation in metabolic cost of powered flight, with hummingbirds exhibiting the highest metabolism and smallest genomes (12,100,101), whereas flightless ratite birds display the largest genomes (2,51,102). Our results lend further support to this connection between metabolic rate and genome size reduction.…”

Section: Dna Gain and Loss Analysis Reveals The Elasticity Of Avian Asupporting

confidence: 74%

Dynamics of genome size evolution in birds and mammals

Kapusta

Suh

Feschotte

2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

369

358

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Genome size in mammals and birds shows remarkably little interspecific variation compared with other taxa. However, genome sequencing has revealed that many mammal and bird lineages have experienced differential rates of transposable element (TE) accumulation, which would be predicted to cause substantial variation in genome size between species. Thus, we hypothesize that there has been covariation between the amount of DNA gained by transposition and lost by deletion during mammal and avian evolution, resulting in genome size equilibrium. To test this model, we develop computational methods to quantify the amount of DNA gained by TE expansion and lost by deletion over the last 100 My in the lineages of 10 species of eutherian mammals and 24 species of birds. The results reveal extensive variation in the amount of DNA gained via lineage-specific transposition, but that DNA loss counteracted this expansion to various extents across lineages. Our analysis of the rate and size spectrum of deletion events implies that DNA removal in both mammals and birds has proceeded mostly through large segmental deletions (>10 kb). These findings support a unified "accordion" model of genome size evolution in eukaryotes whereby DNA loss counteracting TE expansion is a major determinant of genome size. Furthermore, we propose that extensive DNA loss, and not necessarily a dearth of TE activity, has been the primary force maintaining the greater genomic compaction of flying birds and bats relative to their flightless relatives.genome size evolution | DNA loss | transposable elements | amniotes | flight T he nature and relative importance of the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary forces underlying genome size variation has been the subject of intense research and debate (1-7). Variation in genome sizes may not always occur at a level where natural selection is strong enough to prevent genetic drift to determine their fate (neutral or effectively neutral variation) (3). Additionally, the fixation probability of slightly deleterious deletions or insertions would be higher in species with smaller effective population sizes, where natural selection acts less efficiently (3,8). On the other hand, a number of correlative associations between genome size and phenotypic traits, such as cell size (9, 10) and metabolic rate associated with powered flight (11, 12), suggest that natural selection and adaptive processes also shape genome size evolution. Teasing apart the relative importance of these two forces (drift and selection) requires a better understanding of the mode and processes by which DNA is gained and lost over long evolutionary periods in different taxa. Thus, establishing an integrated view of the contribution of gain and loss of DNA to genome size variation (or lack thereof) remains an important goal in genome biology (e.g., refs. 1, 2, 13, and 14).Most studies of genome size evolution have focused on taxa with extensive variation in genome sizes, such as flowering plants (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), conifers (21), insects (22-...

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Section: Dna Gain and Loss Analysis Reveals The Elasticity Of Avian Asupporting

confidence: 74%

Dynamics of genome size evolution in birds and mammals

Kapusta

Suh

Feschotte

2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

369

358

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We measured hemoglobin concentration of hummingbirds using a Hemocue, with a 1 g/dl correction for avian blood [7]. We We gauged ANS function derived from the ratios of low/high frequencies (LF/HF) from spectral analyses of growth intervals of hummingbird feathers measured in 1173 feathers (53 individual birds), 94 non-avian theropod rock imprints of feathers and 23 nonavian theropod rock imprints [9].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human and Hummingbird Hemoglobin Concentrations and MetabolicRhythms at Altitude Determined with Statistical Modeling

Qualls¹,

Witt²,

Wilson³

et al. 2017

J Biom Biostat

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“…Martinez appealed on the basis that the admission of evidence of a DNA match without the statistical probabilities that Low Copy DNA testing, or LCN DNA testing, can create a DNA profile from only a few skin cells. LCN DNA can be used on a sample that contains less than 200 picograms of DNA [4]. LCN DNA testing has been used in the United Kingdom, but that use has revealed some shortcomings in the test.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tackling Technical Debt: Managing Advances in DNA Technology that Outpace the Evolution of Law

Cino¹

2016

J Civil Legal Sci

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From its initial development in the 1980s as an identification tool, the use of DNA in criminal cases-both to convict defendants and exonerate the wrongly convicted-has been prolific. By the 1990s, Congress had focused on forensic DNA research and development. As DNA continues to expand its footprint as the ostensible "gold standard" in criminal investigations, an extraordinary amount of the federal funding allocated to crime labs was specifically earmarked for DNA expansion. Indeed, the funding abundance for DNA collection, testing, and retention far outstrip other crime lab allotments. Because of this, research and development of new DNA analytical techniques can be a lucrative business.Indeed, the next generation of DNA technology already has or inevitably will find its way into criminal investigations and the courtroom. The high rate of return on DNA-based investment almost dictates this result: As of December 2015, CODIS has produced over 315,410 hits that assisted in at least 303,201 investigations. But DNA technology may advance and outpace the testimonial claims, which are not yet reliable and scientifically defensible. Technology does not wait for the legal system to catch up with it.This article examines the new wave of DNA testing tools. It surveys the validity of these new forensic techniques, considers evidentiary uses in courts, and any addresses potential hurdles to admissibility. Part I covers the background of DNA testing. Part II assesses LCN DNA testing, Part III looks at phenotyping, and Part IV focuses on Rapid DNA testing. Finally, Part V concludes that additional validation studies are needed before these technologies become part of the routine criminal investigation process.From its initial development in the 1980s as an identification tool, the use of DNA in criminal cases-both to convict defendants and exonerate the wrongly convicted-has been prolific. By the 1990s, Congress had focused on forensic DNA research and development. As DNA continues to expand its footprint as the ostensible "gold standard" in criminal investigations, an extraordinary amount of the federal funding allocated to crime labs was specifically earmarked for DNA expansion. Indeed, the funding abundance for DNA collection, testing, and retention far outstrips other crime lab allotments. Because of this, research and development of new DNA analytical techniques can be a lucrative business. Indeed, the funding abundance for DNA collection, testing, and retention far outstripped other crime lab allotments, despite the fact that DNA analysis only represented a small portion of crime lab work at that time. Two decades later, DNA testing is now a primary hub of many labs-forcing other traditional forensic lab departments (such as trace evidence or fingerprints) to cut back or close shop.

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The smallest avian genomes are found in hummingbirds

Cited by 47 publications

References 36 publications

Dynamics of genome size evolution in birds and mammals

Dynamics of genome size evolution in birds and mammals

Human and Hummingbird Hemoglobin Concentrations and MetabolicRhythms at Altitude Determined with Statistical Modeling

Tackling Technical Debt: Managing Advances in DNA Technology that Outpace the Evolution of Law

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