Complementary Evolution of Coding and Noncoding Sequence Underlies Mammalian Hairlessness
November 2022
Studysummary This research identified genetic sequences that evolved at different rates in hairless versus hairy mammals, suggesting specific genetic changes contributed to the convergent evolution of hairlessness across various mammalian species.
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The authors of the study on mammalian hairlessness addressed reviewer concerns by conducting additional analyses, clarifying methods, and adding supplemental data. They found that genes with shared rate shifts are more hair-specific and explained the treatment of deleted elements and the role of pleiotropy. The study used 62 species to represent hairless and diverse others, with clarifications on gene categories and overlaps. These enhancements did not alter the conclusion that both coding and noncoding sequences contribute to mammalian hairlessness.
