The history of life on Earth is characterized by the appearance of species with new organs, parts, tissues, systems and capabilities. Examples of these new features include the first appearance of photosynthesis, oxygen metabolism, multicellularity, cell specialization, sexual reproduction, locomotion, digestive systems, circulatory systems, nervous systems, hard shells, lungs, limbs, bones, scales, feathers, skin, hair, wings, eyes, ears, etc. Such new features are made possible by new genetic programs. The genetic programs for photosynthesis and oxygen metabolism, for example, are well-studied. We would like to know where new genetic programs come from.

Standard Darwinian theory holds that new genetic programs arise from existing ones through gene duplication and divergence. Thus, a new program would acquire its final sequence gradually over time, as illustrated next.

Strong panspermia begins with scepticism about this aspect of Darwinism. It is implausible to many, and direct evidence for it is thin. Meanwhile, the newly recognized possibility that microbial life may arrive from space and the growing importance of gene transfer introduce an alternative source for new genetic programs. They could be imported to Earth's biosphere and installed by gene transfer. If so, an earlier version of a genetic program would differ only slightly, if at all, from its final sequence. The progress of a genetic program over time, according to strong panspermia, is illustrated next.

Human Genome Search at University of Oklahoma

The current study by Tom Ray will begin with a comparison of the human and mouse genomes, to identify genetic programs present in humans, but absent in mice ("new genetic programs"). Then these genetic programs will be systematically sought in every available genome for species ancestral to humans that evolved after the mouse. Among these, lemur, chimp and ape genomes are substantially complete or soon will be. These intervening genomes should contain evidence of the genetic history that will provide the first picture of the process by which new genetic programs arise.

Darwinism — If a new genetic program evolves by Darwinian duplication and divergence, we should find intermediate versions of it in the intervening species between humans and mice (datapoints along one of the red lines).

Strong panspermia — If a new genetic program arrives by the strong panspermia process, intervening species should possess either nearly identical versions of it (datapoints on the blue line), or nothing similar (the program "seems to have come from nowhere".)

In spite of the limitations on the availability of genetic data, we believe that enough is available to begin work now. We anticipate that new data will be generated quickly enough to maintain the momentum of this project until a useful result is obtained.

What'sNEW

21 Apr 2008: Placental genes have ancient origins.
29 Nov 2007: Surprises come from a comparison of twelve fruitfly genomes.
19 Nov 2007: Ancient retroviruses spurred evolution of gene regulatory networks in humans and other primates.
26 Sep 2007: The genomes of 17 species of fungi have been analysed to reconstruct gene duplication....
26 Aug 2007: The first analysis of the genome of the sea anemone shows it to be nearly as complex as the human genome.
Xun Gu, "Evolutionary Framework for Protein Sequence Evolution and Gene Pleiotropy" [abstract], 10.1534/genetics.106.066530, p 1813-1822 v 175, Genetics, Apr (online 4 Feb) 2007.
15 Sep 2006: Tom Ray replies to our open email of 31 Dec 2005.
4 May 2006: A gene captured from a mobile element fused with another gene to make a new primate gene.
Zhixi Su et al., "Evolution of alternative splicing after gene duplication" [abstract], doi:10.1101/gr.4197006, Genome Research, online 19 Dec 2004. "...Loss of alternative splicing in duplicate genes may occur shortly after the gene duplication. These results support the subfunctionization model of alternative splicing in the early stage after gene duplication."
30 Sep 2005: The chimp genome has been sequenced. At least seventeen human genes contain exons missing in chimps.
27 June 2005: "Gene duplication is the primary source of new genes."
21 Nov 2004: Evidence that 1,183 human genes were "born" 3-4 million years ago, by duplication and divergence....
21 Oct 2004: Eukaryote-to-eukaryote lateral gene transfer....
Elizabeth Pennisi, "Surveys Reveal Vast Numbers of Genes" [summary], p 1591 v 304, Science, 11 June 2004.
Correspondence with Tom Ray... during the establishment and pursuit of this research project, 2001-2004.
7 May 2004: Ultraconserved elements.
15 Jan 2004: Are normal microevolutionary processes sufficient to account for human origins?
2003, November 20: In mammals, CNGs are more numerous and better conserved than genes — some datapoints on the blue line!
Protein Evolution.doc: (943KB) interim report from Thomas Ray, 29 July 2003.
2003, February 18: Humanoid gene arose abruptly?
2002, November 24: Photosynthesis evolved by gene transfer.
2001 Nov 18: Human Genome Search at U of Oklahoma, the study by Tom Ray.