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Published on: October 31, 2019
Molecular domestication--more than a sporadic episode in evolution
W J Miller1, J F McDonald, D Nouaud
1Institute of Medical Biology, A.G. General Genetics, University of Vienna, Austria. wolfgang.miller@univie.ac.at
Genetica
|August 22, 2000
Summary
Transposable elements (TEs) can be domesticated by host genomes, providing beneficial innovations. This molecular domestication mirrors early life
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic sequences capable of self-replication within genomes.
- TEs possess cis-regulatory elements and encode proteins that influence their own propagation and host factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the evolutionary impact of transposable elements on host genomes.
- To highlight instances where host genomes domesticated TE-derived sequences for beneficial functions.
- To propose molecular domestication as a key evolutionary process.
Main Methods:
- Review of prominent cases of TE domestication.
- Analysis of the functional repertoire of TE-encoded proteins.
- Comparative genomics and evolutionary trajectory analysis.
Main Results:
- TE-encoded proteins offer valuable functions like DNA manipulation (excision, replication, integration).
- Host genomes have repeatedly domesticated TE regulatory modules and protein-coding sequences.
- Domestication of TEs provides significant evolutionary advantages to host biology.
Conclusions:
- Molecular domestication of TEs represents a significant evolutionary innovation for host genomes.
- This process likely recapitulates early evolutionary events in genome complexity.
- TEs have played a crucial role in shaping genome evolution and host adaptation.
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