Cryptic genes: evolutionary puzzles

Mukerji, M and Mahadevan, S (1997) Cryptic genes: evolutionary puzzles. In: Journal of Genetics, 76 (2). pp. 147-159.

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Abstract

Many microorganisms carry genes that have the potential to code for specific functions but remain inactive during the normal lifetime of the organism. Such genes have been termed cryptic genes and their activation usually requires a mutational event. They are different from pseudogenes which arise as a result of duplication of a functional gene but remain inactivated because of the accumulation of multiple mutations. This review is an attempt to examine some of the well-characterized cryptic genetic systems in Escherichia coli in an effort to understand their functional and evolutionary significance.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Genetics
Publisher:	Indian Academy Sciences
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Academy Sciences.
Keywords:	Silent genes;beta-glucoside utilization;microbial evolution.
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Molecular Reproduction, Development & Genetics
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2009 09:02
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 05:25
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/18781

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