Wang Ziyi, Duan Yuange
Department of Entomology, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
Yantai Institute of China Agricultural University, Yantai, 264670, Shandong, China.
J Mol Evol. 2025 Sep 18. doi: 10.1007/s00239-025-10270-8.
Adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing is a widespread RNA modification that recodes genetic information and expands proteomic diversity. Exploring its evolutionary and adaptive roles requires multi-dimensional analysis, from sequence conservation to functional impact. In this article, we highlight RNA editing as a fascinating bridge between molecular biology and evolutionary theory-two domains used to be treated separately. Remarkably, RNA editing embodies both diversity (as a consequence of mutation, drift, and selection) and conservation (common ancestor), the two foundational principles of Darwin's theory and modern evolutionary research. While some evolutionary studies emphasize what has changed over time, RNA editing additionally draws attention to conserved signatures that persist across lineages, offering a more integrative perspective on how species evolve while remaining connected through shared molecular ancestry.
腺苷到次黄苷的RNA编辑是一种广泛存在的RNA修饰，它重新编码遗传信息并扩展蛋白质组多样性。探索其进化和适应性作用需要进行多维度分析，从序列保守性到功能影响。在本文中，我们强调RNA编辑是分子生物学与进化理论之间一座引人入胜的桥梁——这两个领域过去常常被分开对待。值得注意的是，RNA编辑体现了多样性（作为突变、漂变和选择的结果）和保守性（共同祖先），这是达尔文理论和现代进化研究的两个基本原则。虽然一些进化研究强调随着时间推移发生了哪些变化，但RNA编辑还额外关注跨谱系持续存在的保守特征，为物种如何进化同时又通过共享分子祖先保持联系提供了更综合的视角。
