Manyuan Long – författare

This work addresses the origin and evolution of new gene functions. Although interest in evolutionary novelties can be traced back to the time of Darwin, the appreciation and systematical experimental pursuit of the origin and evolution of new gene functions did not appear until the early 1990s. Sixteen chapters from pioneers and leading scientists in this emerging field provide overviews of how new genes with novel functions originated and evolved. Broad issues related to new gene evolution are analyzed, ranging from molecular mechanisms to population genetics to theoretical conjecture of the minimum building blocks for protein diversity. Both insightful reviews and original results of theoretical and experimental analyses are presented, which should be valuable for researchers and students in further pursuit of the field of new gene evolution.

Although interest in evolutionary novelties can be that these different mechanisms cooperate in the mak­ traced back to the time of Darwin, the appreciation ing of new genes. In the second phase of new gene evolution, conventional models of new gene evolution, and systematical experimental pursuit of the origin and evolution of new gene functions did not appear for example by gene duplication, held that the muta­ until the early years of last decade. Since the 1970s, tions fixed in the early stages of the new genes are Susumu Ohno, Walter Gilbert, and others from the assumed to be neutral or nearly neutral. However, it area of evolutionary genetics have made pioneer ef­ appears that the force of Darwinian positive selection has been detectably strong from the outset in avail­ forts to elaborate possibilities for major biological mechanisms, for example, gene duplication and exon able population genetic studies of young genes created through the process of exon recombination. This may shuffling, by which new gene functions could arise. However, the problem of new gene evolution did not account for a common phenomenon in phylogenetic catch significant attention among biologists generally analyses of genes with changed functions: the early even recently. One of the reasons was the lack of ex­ stages of such genes are usually associated with accel­ perimental or observational systems for investigating erated substitution rates. Nonetheless, a more general factual details of the ''birth'' process of new genes.

Although interest in evolutionary novelties can be that these different mechanisms cooperate in the mak­ traced back to the time of Darwin, the appreciation ing of new genes. In the second phase of new gene evolution, conventional models of new gene evolution, and systematical experimental pursuit of the origin and evolution of new gene functions did not appear for example by gene duplication, held that the muta­ until the early years of last decade. Since the 1970s, tions fixed in the early stages of the new genes are Susumu Ohno, Walter Gilbert, and others from the assumed to be neutral or nearly neutral. However, it area of evolutionary genetics have made pioneer ef­ appears that the force of Darwinian positive selection has been detectably strong from the outset in avail­ forts to elaborate possibilities for major biological mechanisms, for example, gene duplication and exon able population genetic studies of young genes created through the process of exon recombination. This may shuffling, by which new gene functions could arise. However, the problem of new gene evolution did not account for a common phenomenon in phylogenetic catch significant attention among biologists generally analyses of genes with changed functions: the early even recently. One of the reasons was the lack of ex­ stages of such genes are usually associated with accel­ perimental or observational systems for investigating erated substitution rates. Nonetheless, a more general factual details of the 'birth' process of new genes.

This book commemorates the eclectic intellectual life of scientist and artist Walter Gilbert. It presents all of his most influential works throughout his scientific career. His scientific explorations covered a broad spectrum of fields: theoretical physics; molecular biology, from finding messenger RNA to elucidating the regulation of the lac operon to understanding DNA replication; gene evolution and origin of life; genomics; bioinformatics; and beyond. He created widely used concepts such as "Exon", "Intron" and "RNA World". Eleven reflective essays by Gilbert are included for the first time, discussing both his scientific studies and anecdotes from his own life. These firsthand accounts record the historical and intellectual contexts for his most monumental scientific discoveries, including his Nobel Prize-winning sequencing method. Memorial chapters, contributed by Gilbert Laboratory alumni, describe the passion, ambition, and efforts of Gilbert and several generations of young scientists under his leadership. Finally, the book collects a few fine pieces of artwork created by Gilbert in recent years. It documents a life of genius and creativity that could inspire others for years to come.