Increased Rate of Hair Keratin Gene Loss in the Cetacean Lineage

January 2014 in “ BMC Genomics ”

Mariana F. Nery, José Ignacio Arroyo, Juan C. Opazo

alpha-keratin hair-type keratin genes pseudogenization gene family evolution hairless phenotype molecular basis of hair loss adaptive response pseudogenes

Studysummary This study highlights the loss of hair-type keratin genes in cetaceans compared to terrestrial mammals, suggesting a potential adaptive role linked to their hairless phenotype and habitat changes. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study examined the evolutionary patterns of alpha-keratin genes in cetaceans, such as dolphins and minke whales, and found a significant loss of hair-type keratin genes compared to terrestrial mammals. This gene loss, primarily through pseudogenization, was suggested to be an adaptive response to aquatic environments, supporting the "less-is-more" hypothesis. The research highlighted the role of gene family evolution in the hairless phenotype of cetaceans, suggesting that gene loss can be advantageous in specific environments. The study provided insights into the molecular basis of hair loss in cetaceans and emphasized the adaptive potential of pseudogenes in evolution.

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