Domestication and transduplication: The role of transposable elements in genome evolution

高等生物的基因组通常被认为是由基因组成的。但数量远远超过基因的是被称为转座因子或转座子的实体。它们通常被描述为分子寄生虫，自私的DNA，甚至是垃圾DNA。它们与基因的不同之处在于，它们可以在基因组内移动，经常导致突变和生物体适应性的整体降低。尽管转座子有“邪恶”的一面，但它们似乎也有“好”的一面。 可能是为了增强它们的自私行为，转座子寻找宿主的基因组序列，以便发明新的方法来逃避抑制，宿主对转座子传播的天然免疫力。转座子通过一个叫做反式复制的过程来实现这一点，在这个过程中，它们将基因组的一部分，甚至是基因，复制到自己的结构中。在大多数情况下，这项活动没有效果。但在极少数情况下，有益的捕获意味着增加转座子存活的可能性。基本上就是利用宿主的DNA来对付自己。转座子还可以转化为新的宿主基因。随着转座子在进化过程中的传播，绝大多数转座子都消失了。基因组实际上是一个巨大的死亡转座子墓地。一些死亡的转座子被赋予了新的生命，作为控制发育重要功能的新宿主基因。因此，转座子并不都是坏的。 我的研究项目的目标是了解转座子对宿主基因组进化的作用。换句话说，研究这种阴阳性质的东西乍一看似乎是一个奇怪的外星实体。此外，我的研究计划将是一个平台，以开发衍生研究项目，旨在利用转座子与其宿主之间的关系，在作物改良和人类健康等领域开发新的应用和技术。

The genome of higher organisms is commonly thought to be consisting of genes. But far outnumbering genes are entities called transposable elements or transposons. They are often characterized as molecular parasites, selfish DNA or even as junk DNA. They differ from genes in that they can move within the genome frequently leading to mutations and an overall reduction in the fitness of the organism. Despite this "evil" side of transposons, they appear to also have a "good" side. Presumably to enhance their selfish behavior, transposons fish for host genomic sequences in order invent new ways to evade supression, the host's natural immunity to transposon spread. Transposons do this through a process called transduplication where they copy parts of the genome, even genes, into their own structure. In most cases, this activity has no effect. But on rare occasions a beneficial catch means increase likelihood of transposon survival. Basically using the host DNA against itself. Transposons also can transform into new host genes. As transposon spread through evolutionary time, the vast majority die off. The genome is in fact a large cemetery of dead transposons. Some these of dead transposon are given a new life as new host genes that control developmentally important functions. Hence, transposons are not all bad. The goal of my research program is to understand the role of transposons on the evolution of host genomes. In other words, examining this ying-yang nature of what at first glance seems like a strangely alien entity. In addition, my research program will be a platform to develop spin-off research projects aimed at exploiting the relationship between transposons and their hosts for developing new applications and technologies in such areas as crop improvement and human health.