Male non-coding RNA genes identified by comparative genomic analysis of the Drosophila genomes

Abstract

This issue published a research article by Yang et al.[1] of Peking University “Significant divergence of sex-related non-coding RNA expression patterns among closely related species in Drosophila”. In a genomic analysis of D. melanogaster and its close relatives, D. simulans, D. yakuba and other related species, D. pseudoobscura and D. virillis, Yang et al. identified a dozen of gonad-(mostly testis-)expression non-coding RNA (ncRNA) genes. It is revealed that these ncRNA genes show diverged expression patterns in these species. The simple method used in the study can be efficiently applied to detection of ncRNA genes in a group of closely related species from a broad range of organisms. This comment will not reiterate experiments and interpretation in detail in this paper. Instead, we will put forward our emphasis on the discussion of the significance of related results in the understanding of biology and evolution of sex reproduction. We will discuss general significance of this work in development and education of the area of ncRNA genes.