Evolutionary Origin and Nomenclature of Vertebrate <i>Wnt11</i> -Family Genes

Abstract

To adequately connect zebrafish medical models to human biology, it is essential that gene nomenclature reflects gene orthology. Analysis of gene phylogenies and conserved syntenies shows that the zebrafish gene currently called <i>wnt11</i> (ENSDARG00000004256, ZFIN ID: ZDB-GENE-990603-12) is not the ortholog of the human gene called <i>WNT11</i> (ENSG00000085741); instead, the gene currently called <i>wnt11r</i> (ENSDARG00000014796, ZFIN ID: ZDB-GENE-980526-249) is the zebrafish ortholog of human <i>WNT11.</i> Genomic analysis of <i>Wnt11-</i>family genes suggests a model for the birth of <i>Wnt11-</i>family gene ohnologs in genome duplication events, provides a mechanism for the death of a <i>Wnt11-</i>family ohnolog in mammals after they diverged from birds, and suggests revised nomenclature to better connect teleost disease models to human biology.