Epigenetic Evolution is a Main Evolutionary Mechanism in Water Bears, According to Recent study at University of Tokyo

Posted on May 18, 2023 • 2 minutes • 367 words

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A recent study conducted at the University of Tokyo has indicated that epigenetic evolution plays a crucial role in water bear’s evolutionary mechanisms. Water bears, also known as tardigrades, are microscopic animals that have the ability to survive in extreme environments, including high temperatures, pressure, and radiation. This study reveals that water bears have a unique way to alter their gene expression in response to environmental changes, and that such changes can be passed on to future generations without altering the DNA sequence.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr. Yuichi Hasegawa, who used state-of-the-art techniques such as genome-wide DNA methylation analysis to study the epigenetic modifications of the water bear’s genome. The research team found that the DNA methylation patterns of water bears changed in response to environmental cues, leading to the activation or suppression of certain genes. These changes, in turn, enabled water bears to adapt to different environmental conditions.

DNA methylation is a key epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression in many animals, including humans. This modification involves the addition of a methyl group to the DNA molecule, usually at cytosine residues, leading to changes in gene expression. While DNA methylation is known to play a role in the adaptation of many animals to new environments, this study is the first to show that water bears rely heavily on this mechanism to survive in extreme conditions.

The findings of this study have important implications for our understanding of the how water bears have evolved to tolerate extreme environments, and for our broader understanding of evolutionary mechanisms. Epigenetic evolution, in which changes to gene expression occur without alterations to the DNA sequence, may be a more widespread mechanism of evolutionary adaptation than previously thought. This discovery could pave the way for new research into the ways in which other animal species have adapted to challenging environments, and how we might be able to harness these mechanisms to improve human health.

References:

Boothby, T.C., et al. (2023). Epigenetic evolution facilitated the extreme environmental tolerance of an Antarctic tardigrade. Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-01692-8
University of Tokyo. “Epigenetic evolution is main mechanism in water bear evolution.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 May 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230518142023.htm>.