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The guardians of inherited oncogenic vulnerabilities
journal contribution
posted on 2016-01-01, 00:00 authored by A Arnal, T Tissot, Beata UjvariBeata Ujvari, L Nunney, E Solary, L Laplane, F Bonhomme, M Vittecoq, A Tasiemski, F Renaud, P Pujol, B Roche, F ThomasSimilar to seemingly maladaptive genes in general, the persistence of inherited cancer-causing mutant alleles in populations remains a challenging question for evolutionary biologists. In addition to traditional explanations such as senescence or antagonistic pleiotropy, here we put forward a new hypothesis to explain the retention of oncogenic mutations. We propose that although natural defenses evolve to prevent neoplasm formation and progression thus increasing organismal fitness, they also conceal the effects of cancer-causing mutant alleles on fitness and concomitantly protect inherited ones from purging by purifying selection. We also argue for the importance of the ecological contexts experienced by individuals and/or species. These contexts determine the locally predominant fitness-reducing risks, and hence can aid the prediction of how natural selection will influence cancer outcomes.
History
Journal
EvolutionVolume
70Issue
1Pagination
1 - 6Publisher
Wiley-BlackwellLocation
Hoboken, N.J.Publisher DOI
ISSN
0014-3820eISSN
1558-5646Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2015, The AuthorsUsage metrics
Keywords
cancernatural defensespurifying selectionsomatic mutationsScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEcologyEvolutionary BiologyGenetics & HeredityEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyATAXIA-TELANGIECTASIABRCA2 MUTATIONSFANCONI-ANEMIABREASTSENESCENCESELECTIONGENETICSACTIVATIONLONGEVITYEvolutionary BiologyEcology
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