Physiology of the read-write genome.

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Cytogenetics

Background:

• Traditionally, genetic changes were viewed as accidental and sporadic.
• Recent discoveries reveal genome alteration as a regulated, cell-driven physiological process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present evidence for genome change as an active, cell-mediated process.
• To model the genome as a read-write system instead of read-only memory.
• To explore the implications of this paradigm shift.

Main Methods:

• Review of discoveries in cytogenetics, molecular biology, and genomics.
• Analysis of cellular mechanisms for genome protection and alteration.
• Examination of natural genetic engineering (NGE) functions.

Main Results:

• Cells possess proofreading and DNA repair systems to prevent accidental genome change.
• Specialized DNA polymerases cause localized point mutations.
• Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repairs broken chromosomes and drives rearrangements.
• NGE functions actively transport, diversify, and reorganize DNA, creating genomic novelty.
• NGE is regulated and activated by life events, with targeted genomic locations.
• Cancer genome changes can result from loss of homeostatic control over NGE.

Conclusions:

• The genome functions as a regulated read-write system, not static read-only memory.
• Understanding cellular NGE is crucial for comprehending genome dynamics and disease.
• This perspective offers new insights into genetic variation and evolution.