Origins of introns based on the definition of exon modules and their conserved interfaces |
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Authors: | de Roos Albert D G |
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Institution: | The Beagle Armada Postbus 964, 4600 AZ Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands. albert.de.roos@thebeaglearmada.nl |
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Abstract: | Central to the unraveling of the early evolution of the genome is the origin and role of introns. The evolution of the genome can be characterized by a continuous expansion of functional modules that occurs without the interruption of existing processes. The design-by-contract methodology of software development offers a modular approach to design that seeks to increase flexibility by focusing on the design of constant interfaces between functional modules. Here, it is shown that design-by-contract can offer a framework for genome evolution. The definition of an ancient exon module with identical splice sites leads to a relatively simple sequence of events that explains the role of introns, intron phase differences and the evolution of multi-exon proteins in an RNA world. An interaction of the experimentally defined six-nucleotide splicing consensus sequence together with a limited number of primitive ribozymes can account for a rapid creation of protein diversity. |
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