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Related Concept Videos

Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
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DNA-only Transposons

DNA-only transposons are called autonomous transposons since they code for the enzyme transposase that is required for the transposition mechanism. Insertion of transposons can alter gene functions in multiple ways. They can mutate the gene, alter gene expression by introducing a novel promoter or insulator sequence, introduce new splice sites, and change the mRNA transcripts produced, or remodel chromatin structure.
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Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...
Transposons01:24

Transposons

Transposons, or "jumping genes," are small mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that range from 700 to 40,000 base pairs in length. They are found in all organisms and can move within the same chromosome or transfer to different chromosomes. In some cases, transposons can also jump between different host DNA molecules, such as plasmids or viruses, contributing to genetic variability.Barbara McClintock first discovered these mobile genetic elements in the 1940s while studying maize genetics, and she...
Gene Conversion02:08

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...

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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
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Exonization of transposed elements: A challenge and opportunity for evolution.

Jürgen Schmitz1, Jürgen Brosius

  • 1Institute of Experimental Pathology (ZMBE), University of Münster, Münster, Germany. jueschm@uni-muenster.de

Biochimie
|July 27, 2011
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Exonization allows genes to gain new exons from intronic DNA, often driven by mobile genetic elements. This evolutionary process can lead to new gene functions over millions of years.

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Protein-coding genes consist of exons and introns; introns are removed during mRNA processing.
  • Exonization is the process by which new exons are acquired from non-coding DNA, primarily introns.
  • This acquisition often results from mutations creating alternative splice sites, incorporating intronic sequences into mature mRNA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the process of exonization, detailing how genes acquire new exons from intronic DNA.
  • To explore the evolutionary mechanisms and timelines involved in exonization.
  • To illustrate exonization through three distinct case studies.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics and transcriptomics across related species to reconstruct evolutionary changes.
  • Analysis of gene structures and splice variants to identify instances of exonization.
  • Examination of mobile genetic elements and their role in facilitating exonization.

Main Results:

  • Exonization frequently involves transposed elements containing splice site-like structures.
  • The process is lengthy, often spanning millions of years, involving gradual optimization of new splice sites.
  • Three cases demonstrate the evolution of new exons from repeats (MIR), Alu elements, and A-to-I RNA editing.

Conclusions:

  • Exonization is a significant evolutionary mechanism for gene innovation, driven by genomic rearrangements and selection.
  • Mobile genetic elements are key players, providing raw material and structural motifs for exonization.
  • The study highlights the dynamic nature of genomes and the stepwise evolution of gene structure and function.