How life changes itself: the Read-Write (RW) genome.

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Traditionally, the genome was viewed as static Read-Only Memory (ROM), susceptible to random errors.
• Recent research suggests a more dynamic model of genome maintenance and alteration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a paradigm shift in understanding the genome as a dynamic Read-Write (RW) data storage system.
• To explore the concept of active cellular inscriptions as the mechanism for genome modification.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical and current research on genome change mechanisms.
• Analysis of cellular modifications across different time scales: cell reproduction, multicellular development, and evolution.
• Examination of processes like nucleoprotein complex formation, epigenetic formatting, and DNA sequence alterations.

Main Results:

• Genome change is a cell-mediated, active process, not merely accidental DNA damage.
• Genome inscriptions occur across three distinct timescales, involving diverse molecular mechanisms.
• This cell-active perspective applies to all scales of genetic variation, including point mutations and whole genome duplications (WGDs).

Conclusions:

• The genome should be conceptualized as a Read-Write (RW) system actively managed by cellular inscriptions.
• This active inscription model offers profound implications for all life science disciplines.
• Understanding the genome as a dynamic, cell-controlled entity is crucial for future biological research.