2022
Placing human gene families into their evolutionary context
Dornburg A, Mallik R, Wang Z, Bernal M, Thompson B, Bruford E, Nebert D, Vasiliou V, Yohe L, Yoder J, Townsend J. Placing human gene families into their evolutionary context. Human Genomics 2022, 16: 56. PMID: 36369063, PMCID: PMC9652883, DOI: 10.1186/s40246-022-00429-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman gene familyGene familyHuman genomeEvolutionary contextGene family evolutionNon-model organismsFirst human genomeGenome biologyComparative genomicsFamily evolutionDistant speciesDraft sequenceGenomic studiesGene expressionGenome sequencingSequence complexityGenomeCancer biologyUnprecedented insightsNovel discoveriesCritical roleOrganismsBiologyComparative approachFamily
2020
Unmatched Level of Molecular Convergence among Deeply Divergent Complex Multicellular Fungi
Merényi Z, Prasanna AN, Wang Z, Kovács K, Hegedüs B, Bálint B, Papp B, Townsend JP, Nagy LG. Unmatched Level of Molecular Convergence among Deeply Divergent Complex Multicellular Fungi. Molecular Biology And Evolution 2020, 37: 2228-2240. PMID: 32191325, PMCID: PMC7403615, DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsComplex multicellularityGene familyMulticellular fruiting bodiesGene family levelLarge phylogenetic distancesSimilar selection pressuresRecent common ancestorFungal ancestorsFungal genomesGenomic repertoireMolecular convergenceMulticellular fungiPhylogenetic distanceConvergent evolutionEvolutionary convergenceLarge cladeEvolutionary trajectoriesCommon ancestorIndependent evolutionNatural selectionSelection pressureEvolutionary predispositionMulticellularityCladeFruiting bodies
2017
The ancestral levels of transcription and the evolution of sexual phenotypes in filamentous fungi
Trail F, Wang Z, Stefanko K, Cubba C, Townsend JP. The ancestral levels of transcription and the evolution of sexual phenotypes in filamentous fungi. PLOS Genetics 2017, 13: e1006867. PMID: 28704372, PMCID: PMC5509106, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006867.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGene expressionFilamentous fungiCommon garden environmentBody developmentWide gene expressionGene expression phenotypesGene deletion studiesGene expression measurementsMulticellular developmentDivergent speciesSexual phenotypeGene familyEvolved increasesDivergent morphologyKnockout phenotypesAncestral levelsWhole genomeGarden environmentExpression phenotypesDeletion studiesRelevant genesPhenotypic analysisDevelopmental stagesExpression measurementsBody morphology