The Lost and Found: Unraveling the Functions of Orphan Genes

Abstract

Orphan Genes (OGs) are a mysterious class of genes that have recently gained significant attention. Despite lacking a clear evolutionary history, they are found in nearly all living organisms, from bacteria to humans, and they play important roles in diverse biological processes. The discovery of OGs was first made through comparative genomics followed by the identification of unique genes across different species. OGs tend to be more prevalent in species with larger genomes, such as plants and animals, and their evolutionary origins remain unclear but potentially arise from gene duplication, horizontal gene transfer (HGT), or de novo origination. Although their precise function is not well understood, OGs have been implicated in crucial biological processes such as development, metabolism, and stress responses. To better understand their significance, researchers are using a variety of approaches, including transcriptomics, functional genomics, and molecular biology. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of OGs in all domains of life, highlighting the possible role of dark transcriptomics in their evolution. More research is needed to fully comprehend the role of OGs in biology and their impact on various biological processes.

Space radiation damage rescued by inhibition of key spaceflight associated miRNAs

“…4 ). Since orphan genes often integrate themselves into metabolic and regulatory networks 31 , 33 , 34 , these could play a role in the dysregulation of DNA repair and metabolic pathways associated with response to space radiation and antagomir treatment observed here.…”