In a recent study published in the journal Nature, researchers from Princeton University and Baylor College of Medicine have unveiled the genetic basis behind the development of gliding in certain mammalian species.
The research team, led by Dr. Ricardo Mallarino, aimed to understand how evolutionary novelties like the ability to glide arise at a molecular and genetic level. Dr. Mallarino expressed, "We don't quite understand how novel traits and adaptations originate from a molecular and genetic perspective. We wanted to investigate how an evolutionary novelty arises."
Dr. Erez Lieberman Aiden, another co-corresponding author of the study, highlighted the importance of short DNA sequences called 'enhancers' in driving the evolution of gliding. He explained, "What’s interesting is that the sequence of the gene itself doesn’t seem to be where the most relevant changes are taking place. Instead, the key changes are in short DNA sequences, called ‘enhancers,’ that lie nearby in the genome."
The team focused their research on marsupials, particularly the sugar glider, to better understand the genomic and developmental basis of the patagium, the membrane that enables gliding in certain mammalian species. Dr. Olga Dudchenko, a co-first author of the study, highlighted the unique characteristics of marsupials that facilitated their research, stating, "Marsupial joeys are born at a much earlier stage in development than typical mammals."
Through their research, the team demonstrated that the gene Emx2 plays a significant role in the development of the marsupial patagium. Dr. Dudchenko noted, "By modifying those critical Emx2 enhancers, one species after another has tapped into this universal program in order to develop the ability to glide."
The study sheds light on the genetic mechanisms that underlie the evolution of gliding in mammals and provides valuable insights into how novel traits can emerge through genomic changes.
