嘿嘿视频

Study Challenges Evolutionary Theory That DNA Mutations Are Random

Findings Could Lead to Advances in Plant Breeding, Human Genetics

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Photo of Arabidopsis thaliana, or thale cress, a small, flowering weed
Studying the genome of thale cress, a small flowering weed, led to a new understanding about DNA mutations. (P谩draic Flood)

Quick Summary

  • DNA mutations are not random as previously thought
  • Findings change our understanding of evolution
  • May help researchers breed better crops, fight cancer

A simple roadside weed may hold the key to understanding and predicting DNA mutation, according to new research from University of California, Davis, and the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Germany.

The , published today in the journal Nature, radically change our understanding of evolution and could one day help researchers breed better crops or even help humans fight cancer.

Mutations occur when DNA is damaged and left unrepaired, creating a new variation. The scientists wanted to know if mutation was purely random or something deeper. What they found was unexpected.

鈥淲e always thought of mutation as basically random across the genome,鈥 said Grey Monroe, an assistant professor in the 嘿嘿视频 Department of Plant Sciences who is lead author on the paper. 鈥淚t turns out that mutation is very non-random and it鈥檚 non-random in a way that benefits the plant. It鈥檚 a totally new way of thinking about mutation.鈥

Researchers spent three years sequencing the DNA of hundreds of Arabidopsis thaliana, or thale cress, a small, flowering weed considered the 鈥渓ab rat among plants鈥 because of its relatively small genome comprising around 120 million base pairs. Humans, by comparison, have roughly 3 billion base pairs. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 a model organism for genetics,鈥 Monroe said.

Lab-grown plants yield many variations

Work began at Max Planck Institute where researchers grew specimens in a protected lab environment, which allowed plants with defects that may not have survived in nature be able to survive in a controlled space.

Sequencing of those hundreds of Arabidopsis thaliana plants revealed more than 1 million mutations. Within those mutations a nonrandom pattern was revealed, counter to what was expected.

鈥淎t first glance, what we found seemed to contradict established theory that initial mutations are entirely random and that only natural selection determines which mutations are observed in organisms,鈥 said Detlef Weigel, scientific director at Max Planck Institute and senior author on the study.

Instead of randomness they found patches of the genome with low mutation rates. In those patches, they were surprised to discover an over-representation of essential genes, such as those involved in cell growth and gene expression.

鈥淭hese are the really important regions of the genome,鈥 Monroe said. 鈥淭he areas that are the most biologically important are the ones being protected from mutation.鈥

The areas are also sensitive to the harmful effects of new mutations. 鈥淒NA damage repair seems therefore to be particularly effective in these regions,鈥 Weigel added.

Plant evolved to protect itself

The scientists found that the way DNA was wrapped around different types of proteins was a good predictor of whether a gene would mutate or not. 鈥淚t means we can predict which genes are more likely to mutate than others and it gives us a good idea of what鈥檚 going on,鈥 Weigel said.

The findings add a surprising twist to Charles Darwin鈥檚 theory of evolution by natural selection because it reveals that the plant has evolved to protect its genes from mutation to ensure survival.  

鈥淭he plant has evolved a way to protect its most important places from mutation,鈥 Weigel said. 鈥淭his is exciting because we could even use these discoveries to think about how to protect human genes from mutation.鈥

Future uses

Knowing why some regions of the genome mutate more than others could help breeders who rely on genetic variation to develop better crops. Scientists could also use the information to better predict or develop new treatments for diseases like cancer that are caused by mutation.

鈥淥ur discoveries yield a more complete account of the forces driving patterns of natural variation; they should inspire new avenues of theoretical and practical research on the role of mutation in evolution,鈥 the paper concludes.

Co-authors from 嘿嘿视频 include Daniel Kliebenstein, Mariele Lensink, Marie Klein, from the Department of Plant Sciences. Researchers from the Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford University, Westfield State University, University of Montpellier, Uppsala University, College of Charleston, and South Dakota State University contributed to the research.

Funding came from the Max Planck Society, the National Science Foundation and the German Research Foundation.

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