Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.

Convergent Evolution

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.

Elements and Compounds

Elements and Compounds

Pure substances consist of only one type of matter. A pure substance can be an element or a compound. An element consists of only one type of atom, while a compound consists of two or more types of atoms held together by a chemical bond.
Elements
Elements are classified as atomic or molecular based on the nature of their basic units. They are unique forms of matter with specific chemical and physical properties that cannot break down into smaller substances by ordinary chemical reactions. There...

What is the Immune System?

What is the Immune System?

Periodic Classification of the Elements

Periodic Classification of the Elements

The periodic table arranges atoms based on increasing atomic number so that elements with the same chemical properties recur periodically. When their electron configurations are added to the table, a periodic recurrence of similar electron configurations in the outer shells of these elements is observed. Because they are in the outer shells of an atom, valence electrons play the most important role in chemical reactions. The outer electrons have the highest energy of the electrons in an atom...

Classification of Elements and Compounds

Classification of Elements and Compounds

Pure substances consist of only one type of matter. A pure substance can be an element or a compound. An element consists of only one type of atom, while a compound consists of two or more types of atoms held together by a chemical bond. Elements are classified as atomic or molecular based on the nature of their basic units.
Compounds are pure substances composed of two or more elements in fixed, definite proportions. Compounds are classified as ionic or molecular (covalent) based on the bonds...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Epigenetics and transgenerational inheritance.

The Journal of physiology·2023

Same author

Phage Therapy in Germany-Update 2023.

Viruses·2023

Same author

Chemotherapy-Induced, Broadly Reactive Autoantibodies in a Colon Cancer Patient.

Cureus·2022

Same author

Semisynthetic Glycoconjugate Vaccine Candidates against <i>Escherichia coli</i> O25B Induce Functional IgG Antibodies in Mice.

JACS Au·2022

Same author

Editorial for the Special Issue: The Role of the Virome in Health and Disease.

Microorganisms·2022

Same author

The Roles of the Virome in Cancer.

Microorganisms·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Estimating Virus Production Rates in Aquatic Systems

Estimating Virus Production Rates in Aquatic Systems

Published on: September 22, 2010

Evolution of Immune Systems From Viruses and Transposable Elements.

Felix Broecker¹, Karin Moelling^2,3

¹Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.

Frontiers in Microbiology

|February 15, 2019

Summary

Mobile genetic elements, including viruses and transposable elements, have profoundly shaped cellular immunity. These elements evolved from basic virus defense to complex systems like CRISPR-Cas and RAG1/2, highlighting their crucial role in immune system evolution.

Keywords:

CRISPR-Cas RNase H antibodies immune system mobile genetic elements superinfection exclusion transposable elements viruses

More Related Videos

Systemic Bacterial Infection and Immune Defense Phenotypes in Drosophila Melanogaster

Systemic Bacterial Infection and Immune Defense Phenotypes in Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: May 13, 2015

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Published on: May 29, 2008

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Estimating Virus Production Rates in Aquatic Systems

Estimating Virus Production Rates in Aquatic Systems

Published on: September 22, 2010

Systemic Bacterial Infection and Immune Defense Phenotypes in Drosophila Melanogaster

Systemic Bacterial Infection and Immune Defense Phenotypes in Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: May 13, 2015

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Published on: May 29, 2008

Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Immunology
Genomics

Background:

Virus-derived sequences and transposable elements are significant components of cellular genomes.
Recent research highlights the deep evolutionary links between these mobile genetic elements and host immune systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current understanding of how mobile genetic elements have contributed to the evolution of cellular immune pathways.
To illustrate the origin and spread of immune systems from viruses and transposable elements.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on mobile genetic elements and cellular immunity.
Analysis of evolutionary relationships between viral/transposable elements and immune mechanisms.
Synthesis of current knowledge on immune system origins.

Main Results:

Superinfection exclusion in prokaryotes and eukaryotes is an early virus-mediated immune system.
Prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas and vertebrate RAG1/2 systems are complex immune mechanisms derived from mobile genetic elements.
Mobile genetic elements are integral to the origin and diversification of cellular immunity.

Conclusions:

Cellular immune systems have evolved from simple virus exclusion to sophisticated defense strategies.
Viruses and transposable elements are fundamental drivers in the evolutionary trajectory of host immunity.
A comprehensive view reveals that mobile genetic elements are key architects of cellular immune pathways.