An international team of scientists during recent research has tracked the genome of a capuchin monkey for the first time. This could lead to the discovery of new genetic clues as to how long life and the great brain evolved. Published in PNAS, the work was led by the University of Calgary in Canada and involved researchers at the University of Liverpool.
“Capuchins have the largest brain size of any monkey and can survive beyond the age of 50, despite their small size, but their genetic origins have not yet been studied, “explained Professor Joao Pedro De Magalhaes, who is studying age at Liverpool University. The researchers developed and researched a collection of information for white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator) to study the evolution of these markers.
Through a comparative genomics approach spanning a wide variety of mammals, they identified genes under evolutionary selection related to longevity and brain development. “We found signatures of advanced selection of genes that fall under both traits, which will help us to better understand how these traits grow. In addition, we found evidence of genetic modification to thirst and seasonal environments by looking at numbers of capuchins from rainforest and seasonal dry forest, ”said senior author and Canadian Research Chair Amanda Melin who has studied capuchin monkey behavior and genetics for nearly 20 years.
The researchers identified genes associated with DNA damage response, metabolism, cell cycle, and insulin signaling. DNA damage is thought to be a major contributor to aging and previous studies by Professor de Magalhaes and others have shown that genes involved in DNA damage responses show life-long specific selection patterns in mammals. “Indeed, as age-related genes often play multiple roles it is impossible to determine whether selection in these genes is associated with aging or historical markers. other life expectancies, such as growth rates and developmental stages, which itself is associated with longevity, “said Dr De Magalhaes.
“While we should be mindful of the biological significance of our decisions, it is shameful to think that, as in other species, changes in genes or specific age-related pathways may contribute to longevity of capuchins, “he said. The team’s vision was made possible by the development of a new device to more effectively separate DNA from primate dirt.
FecalFACS uses an existing mechanism developed to differentiate cell types in body filters – for example, to separate different cell types in blood for cancer screening – and applies it. in primary faecal samples. “This is a major setback because the conventional method of extracting DNA from dirt results in approximately 95-99 percent of the DNA coming from gut microbes and food items. A lot of money has been spent following genomes from different organisms than the mammals we are they are really trying to study.This is why, when wildlife biologists have needed whole genomes, they have to rely on more real sources of DNA, such as blood, saliva, or tissue – but as you might expect, these are very difficult to come by when examining endangered animals , “explained the lead author of the study, Dr. Joseph Orkin, who completed work on this project as a graduate scholar at the University of Calgary, and in what is now Universitat Pompeu Fabra-CSIC in Barcelona .
“FecalFACS ultimately provides a way to classify whole genomes from free mammals using readily available non-invasive samples, which could aid future conservation efforts,” he said. . (ANI)
(This story was not edited by Devdiscourse staff and is automatically extracted from syndicated feedings.)