Title |
RUNX2 tandem repeats and the evolution of facial length in placental mammals
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Published in |
BMC Ecology and Evolution, June 2012
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DOI | 10.1186/1471-2148-12-103 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Marie A Pointer, Jason M Kamilar, Vera Warmuth, Stephen G B Chester, Frédéric Delsuc, Nicholas I Mundy, Robert J Asher, Brenda J Bradley |
Abstract |
When simple sequence repeats are integrated into functional genes, they can potentially act as evolutionary 'tuning knobs', supplying abundant genetic variation with minimal risk of pleiotropic deleterious effects. The genetic basis of variation in facial shape and length represents a possible example of this phenomenon. Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), which is involved in osteoblast differentiation, contains a functionally-important tandem repeat of glutamine and alanine amino acids. The ratio of glutamines to alanines (the QA ratio) in this protein seemingly influences the regulation of bone development. Notably, in domestic breeds of dog, and in carnivorans in general, the ratio of glutamines to alanines is strongly correlated with facial length. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United States | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Brazil | 2 | 2% |
United Kingdom | 2 | 2% |
Germany | 1 | 1% |
India | 1 | 1% |
Canada | 1 | 1% |
Argentina | 1 | 1% |
United States | 1 | 1% |
Unknown | 76 | 89% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Researcher | 18 | 21% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 17 | 20% |
Student > Master | 11 | 13% |
Student > Bachelor | 6 | 7% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 5 | 6% |
Other | 15 | 18% |
Unknown | 13 | 15% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 45 | 53% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 9 | 11% |
Environmental Science | 3 | 4% |
Social Sciences | 3 | 4% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 3 | 4% |
Other | 10 | 12% |
Unknown | 12 | 14% |