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Eduard Kejnovsky1, Zdenek Kubat2, Judit E Sponer3

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular evolution

Background:

  • Organismal complexity generally increases throughout evolution, from simple replicators to multicellular life.
  • Non-cellular genetic entities (transposable elements, plasmids, viruses, viroids) are often viewed as parasitic.
  • The role of these non-cellular elements in driving evolutionary complexity is under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose that non-cellular genetic elements contribute significantly to the increase in organismal complexity.
  • To suggest these elements may represent a separate kingdom of life, the Acytota.
  • To explore the mechanisms by which non-cellular genetic elements drive evolutionary transitions.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis and synthesis of existing evolutionary and genetic data.
  • Review of proposed mechanisms for complexity increase.
  • Discussion of the evolutionary pressures exerted by non-cellular genetic elements.

Main Results:

  • Non-cellular genetic elements can impose parasitic pressure, driving the evolution of cellular cooperation and complexity.
  • Mechanisms include high proliferation, horizontal gene transfer, parasite-host coevolution, epigenetic silencing, and network formation.
  • These elements also contribute genetic material through domestication and genome rearrangements.

Conclusions:

  • Non-cellular genetic elements are key drivers of evolutionary complexity, not just parasitic entities.
  • They have played a crucial role in the transitions from simple replicators to multicellular organisms.
  • The proposed kingdom Acytota encompasses these vital evolutionary contributors.