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Duplication and Amplification of SPANX genes
Certainty Style Key
Hover over keys for definitions:
True
Likely
Speculative
Human Uniqueness Compared to "Great Apes":
Likely DifferenceMOCA Domain:
Gene Family Expansion and LossThe SPANX gene family encompasses a group of genes involved in spermatogenesis. The SPANX-N subfamily genes are present in one copy in ancestral mammalian species and in greater copies in primates, while the SPANX-A/D subfamily genes are specific to hominoids. In humans, SPANX-B has amplified from 1 to 14 copies, and SPANX-C appears to be unique to the human lineage and experienced a duplication event.
The Human Difference:
Novel gene
Amplification
Duplication
References:
Kouprina N, Noskov VN, Pavlicek A et al (2007). Evolutionary diversification of SPANX-N sperm protein structure and expression. PLoS ONE 2(4):e359.
Kouprina N, Mullokandov M, Rogozin I et al. (2004). The SPANX gene family of cancer-testis specific antigens: rapid evolution, an unusual case of positive selection and amplification in African Great Apes and hominids. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:3077–3082.