Synteny

Synteny refers to the physical co-localization of genetic loci on the same chromosome within an individual or species. Today, however, biologists usually refer to synteny as the conservation of blocks of order within two sets of chromosomes that are being compared with each other. This concept can also be applied to smaller scales, such as the order of genes along a chromosome.

History

The term "synteny" was first introduced in 1970 by the geneticist Edward B. Lewis. It was used to describe a test for the genetic independence of mutant sites in the Drosophila bithorax complex. The term has since been adapted and broadened in its use.

Synteny and Genome Evolution

Synteny analysis is a powerful tool for studying the evolution of genomes. It can reveal the shared ancestry of regions of genomes in different species, and can also provide evidence of evolutionary events such as chromosomal rearrangements, gene duplications, and gene losses.

Synteny Blocks

Synteny blocks are regions of a genome in which the order of genes is the same in another genome. These blocks can be identified by comparing the sequences of two genomes, and looking for regions of similarity. The identification of synteny blocks can provide valuable information about the evolutionary history of a species.

See Also

• Genomics
• Comparative genomics
• Genetic linkage

References

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