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Orthologous Gene

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Synonyms

Ortholog

Definition

Orthologous genes (or orthologs) are a particular class of homologous genes. They are found in different species and have diverged following the speciation of the species hosting them. Therefore, orthologous genes in different species derive from a common ancestral gene found in the ancestor of those species. Given their common origin, it is often the case that orthologous genes have the same function in the different species, but exceptions are not rare. The best way to infer that genes from different species are orthologous is by reconstructing their evolutionary relationships using molecular phylogeny. Conversely, because orthologous genes evolve in parallel with the diversification of species, they are markers of choice for the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of species using molecular phylogeny.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité d’Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution CNRS UMR8079, Université Paris-Sud 11, bâtiment 360, 91405, Orsay cedex, Paris, France

    David Moreira

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  1. David Moreira
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Correspondence to David Moreira .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Moreira, D. (2014). Orthologous Gene. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1731-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1731-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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