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Replaying the tape of life in the twenty-first century.

ABSTRACT: Should the tape of life be replayed, would it produce similar living beings? A classical answer has long been 'no', but accumulating data are now challenging this view. Repeatability in experimental evolution, in phenotypic evolution of diverse species and in the genes underlying phenotypic evolution indicates that despite unpredictability at the level of basic evolutionary processes (such as apparition of mutations), a certain kind of predictability can emerge at higher levels over long time periods. For instance, a survey of the alleles described in the literature that cause non-deleterious phenotypic differences among animals, plants and yeasts indicates that similar phenotypes have often evolved in distinct taxa through independent mutations in the same genes. Does this mean that the range of possibilities for evolution is limited? Does this mean that we can predict the outcomes of a replayed tape of life? Imagining other possible paths for evolution runs into four important issues: (i) resolving the influence of contingency, (ii) imagining living organisms that are different from the ones we know, (iii) finding the relevant concepts for predicting evolution, and (iv) estimating the probability of occurrence for complex evolutionary events that occurred only once during the evolution of life on earth.

SUBMITTER: Orgogozo V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4633862 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Replaying the tape of life in the twenty-first century.

Orgogozo Virginie V

Interface focus 20151201 6

Should the tape of life be replayed, would it produce similar living beings? A classical answer has long been 'no', but accumulating data are now challenging this view. Repeatability in experimental evolution, in phenotypic evolution of diverse species and in the genes underlying phenotypic evolution indicates that despite unpredictability at the level of basic evolutionary processes (such as apparition of mutations), a certain kind of predictability can emerge at higher levels over long time pe ...[more]

PMID: 26640652

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Project description:The resurgence of syphilis and subsequent risk for newborns has been described worldwide; however, European data on this congenital infection is lacking. We report the activity of a multidisciplinary specialized unit assisting a large area in the Southern Italy. A retrospective cohort study has been conducted at the Perinatal and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Units of the Federico II University of Naples, enrolling all newborns and children referred from January 2010 to June 2022 exposed to Treponema pallidum in utero and/or congenitally infected. A total of 323 patients were included in the analysis. Twenty (6.2%) received a diagnosis of confirmed congenital syphilis (CS) and one died. Fifteen CS cases had typical clinical features. Since 2017, the number of referred neonates tripled while the rate of late maternal diagnoses did not significantly differ. When compared with mothers of exposed infants, mothers of CS cases were younger (25 ± 7.2 vs 29.9 ± 6 years, p = 0.041), had less previous pregnancies (0.64 vs 1.11, p = 0.044), and received a diagnosis of syphilis at a later stage of pregnancy (86% vs 20%, from third trimester or later on; p < 0.001). Appropriate maternal therapy was protective against vertical transmission (- 1.2; - 1.4, - 1 95% CI; p < 0.001). Paternal syphilis status was known in 36% of cases.ConclusionCS has still a significant impact. Prevention should be implemented towards specific maternal risk profiles. A specialized unit is the preferable model to improve surveillance and healthcare for this neglected population.What is known• The resurgence of syphilis and subsequent risk for newborns has been described worldwide. • European data on this congenital infection is lacking.What is new• Congenital syphilis has a significant impact still in Europe and prevention should be implemented towards specific maternal risk profiles. • A specialized unit is the preferable model to improve surveillance and healthcare for this neglected population.

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Replaying the tape of life in the twenty-first century.

Publications

Replaying the tape of life in the twenty-first century.

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