Journal article
Transposable elements: powerful facilitators of evolution
BioEssays, Vol.31(7), pp.703-714
2009
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are powerful facilitators of genome evolution, and hence of phenotypic diversity as they can cause genetic changes of great magnitude and variety. TEs are ubiquitous and extremely ancient, and although harmful to some individuals, they can be very beneficial to lineages. TEs can build, sculpt, and reformat genomes by both active and passive means. Lineages with active TEs or with abundant homogeneous inactive populations of TEs that can act passively by causing ectopic recombination are potentially fecund, adaptable, and taxonate readily. Conversely, taxa deficient in TEs or possessing heterogeneous populations of inactive TEs may be well adapted in their niche, but tend to prolonged stasis and may risk extinction by lacking the capacity to adapt to change, or diversify. Because of recurring intermittent waves of TE infestation, available data indicate a compatibility with punctuated equilibrium, in keeping with widely accepted interpretations of evidence from the fossil record. We propose a general and holistic synthesis on how the presence of TEs within genomes makes them flexible and dynamic, so that genomes themselves are powerful facilitators of their own evolution.
Details
- Title
- Transposable elements: powerful facilitators of evolution
- Authors/Creators
- K.R. Oliver (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityW.K. Greene (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- BioEssays, Vol.31(7), pp.703-714
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- Identifiers
- 991005544192807891
- Copyright
- 2009 Wiley Periodicals
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.54 Molecular & Cell Biology - Genetics
- 1.54.1122 Transposable Elements
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Biology
- ESI research areas
- Biology & Biochemistry