Epigenetic mechanisms control sex determination and phenotype within birds

Multitasking genes point to highly organized and energy efficient passive DNA information storage

https://phys.org/news/2020-09-bird-genes-multitaskers-scientists.html

Excerpts:"Scientists from the University of Sheffield have found that although male and female birds have an almost identical set of genes, they function differently in each sex through a mechanism called alternative splicing.

Males and females of the same bird species can be strikingly different. For example, in addition to fundamental differences in reproduction, the sexes can show profound variation in behavior, colouration, metabolism, disease incidence and life history. The team wanted to understand how these remarkable differences develop despite males and females sharing mostly the same DNA.

Thea Rogers, Ph.D. student at the University of Sheffield and lead author of the study, said: "One notable example of differences between male and female birds is in the peafowl, peacocks have magnificent plumage, whereas the female peahen is relatively dull."

"Genes encode proteins, large complex molecules which drive processes in the body and are responsible for the function and structure of the body's tissues. Before genes can be used to make proteins, their DNA sequence is transcribed into RNA, an intermediary molecule that contains the instructions for making proteins.

                                                                   

The scientists found that males and females differ in how bits of RNA are stitched together, meaning that the same gene can produce a large number of distinct proteins and functions depending on which sex the gene is expressed in. This process is called alternative splicing.

Dr. Alison Wright, a researcher at the University of Sheffield and senior author of the study, said: "It is likely that this genetic process (my add: EPIGENETIC PROCESS) is really important for generating biodiversity, not only in birds but across the whole animal kingdom."

My comment: Epigenetic mechanisms and factors control even sex determination and sex specific characteristics and traits. Alternative splicing (AS) makes it possible for the cell to produce thousands of different proteins just by reading single DNA strand. AS is the most significant mechanism behind the rich biodiversity and it is controlled by epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation profiles, histone markers and non coding RNAs. In this process, DNA is highly organized passive information that the cell uses in order to produce active and functional RNA molecules. These findings refute the old and pseudoscientific theories of random mutations, selection and evolution. Don't be deceived.