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PERSPECTIVE: TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS, PARASITIC DNA, AND GENOME EVOLUTION

PERSPECTIVE: TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS, PARASITIC DNA, AND GENOME EVOLUTION The nature of the role played by mobile elements in host genome evolution is reassessed considering numerous recent developments in many areas of biology. It is argued that easy popular appellations such as “selfish DNA” and “junk DNA” may be either inaccurate or misleading and that a more enlightened view of the transposable element‐host relationship encompasses a continuum from extreme parasitism to mutualism. Transposable elements are potent, broad spectrum, endogenous mutators that are subject to the influence of chance as well as selection at several levels of biological organization. Of particular interest are transposable element traits that early evolve neutrally at the host level but at a later stage of evolution are co‐opted for new host functions. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Evolution Wiley

PERSPECTIVE: TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS, PARASITIC DNA, AND GENOME EVOLUTION

Evolution , Volume 55 (1) – Jan 1, 2001

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References (353)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2001 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0014-3820
eISSN
1558-5646
DOI
10.1111/j.0014-3820.2001.tb01268.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The nature of the role played by mobile elements in host genome evolution is reassessed considering numerous recent developments in many areas of biology. It is argued that easy popular appellations such as “selfish DNA” and “junk DNA” may be either inaccurate or misleading and that a more enlightened view of the transposable element‐host relationship encompasses a continuum from extreme parasitism to mutualism. Transposable elements are potent, broad spectrum, endogenous mutators that are subject to the influence of chance as well as selection at several levels of biological organization. Of particular interest are transposable element traits that early evolve neutrally at the host level but at a later stage of evolution are co‐opted for new host functions.

Journal

EvolutionWiley

Published: Jan 1, 2001

Keywords: ; ; ; ;

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