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Living Organisms Author Their Read-Write Genomes in Evolution.

James A Shapiro1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago GCIS W123B, 979 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. jsha@uchicago.edu.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Evolutionary innovation arises from genome changes driven by cell mergers, hybridization, and horizontal gene transfer, not just isolated species evolution. Ecological challenges trigger these genomic shifts, leading to rapid evolutionary transformations.

Keywords:
ecological challengegenome rewritingholobionthorizontal DNA transferhybrid speciationmobile DNA elementsnatural genetic engineeringnetwork rewiringrepetitive DNA formattingsymbiogenesis

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Traditional evolutionary models often assume isolated genomes within species.
  • Recent discoveries highlight complex cellular activities and genome alterations as drivers of evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the notion of isolated genomes in evolution.
  • To explore the role of various genome alteration mechanisms in generating biodiversity and adaptation.
  • To understand how ecological factors influence evolutionary trajectories.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing research on symbiogenesis, hybridization, horizontal gene transfer, and natural genetic engineering.
  • Analysis of the relationship between non-coding DNA content and biological complexity.
  • Examination of the role of non-coding RNAs in regulating phenotypes.

Main Results:

  • Evolutionary novelty results from cell mergers (e.g., eukaryotes), genome doublings (plants/animals), and horizontal DNA transfer across all life domains.
  • Natural genetic engineering, involving mobile DNA, rewires regulatory networks for adaptation.
  • Biological complexity correlates with non-coding DNA, with non-coding RNAs regulating phenotypes.

Conclusions:

  • Evolutionary processes are not confined to isolated species genomes.
  • Ecological challenges act as catalysts for significant genome change.
  • Interactions between cellular activities, biosphere exchanges, and genome modification drive productive, often abrupt, evolutionary transformations.