Evolutionary Conflict between Mobile DNA and Host Genomes

The American Naturalist
Michael J Song, Sarah Schaack

Abstract

The proportion of eukaryotic genomes composed of active or formerly active mobile elements (MEs) is known to vary widely across lineages, but the explanations for why remain largely unknown. Given that ME activity, like other forms of mutation, is thought to be (on average) slightly deleterious in terms of phenotypic effects, understanding the widespread proliferation of MEs in host genomes requires an evolutionary framework. To better develop such a framework, we review the spectrum of resolutions to the genetic conflict between MEs and their hosts: inactivation of MEs due to mutation accumulation, negative selection (or lack thereof) against hosts with high ME loads, silencing of MEs (by hosts or MEs), ME domestication by their hosts, and the horizontal transfer of MEs to new hosts. We also highlight ecological and evolutionary theory from which ME researchers might borrow in order to explain large-scale patterns of ME dynamics across systems. We hope that a synthesis of the surprisingly significant role played by MEs in the genome, as well as the spectrum of resolutions, applicable theory, and recent discoveries, will have two outcomes for future researchers: better parsing of known variation in ME proliferation patterns acr...Continue Reading

Citations

May 31, 2019·Science·Jesse N Weber, Wenfei Tong
Jun 27, 2020·Mobile DNA·Nathalia Rammé Medeiros de AlbuquerqueKaren Luisa Haag
Nov 25, 2020·Genesis : the Journal of Genetics and Development·Marco FambriniClaudio Pugliesi
Feb 18, 2020·One Health Outlook·Laura UelzeBurkhard Malorny
May 25, 2021·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Edmund D BrodieNicole C Riddle
Sep 17, 2021·Genome Génome / Conseil National De Recherches Canada·Sakura HayashiAkihiko Koga

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