Living Organisms Author Their Read-Write Genomes in Evolution
Evolutionary variations generating phenotypic adaptations and novel taxa resulted from complex cellular activities altering genome content and expression: (i) Symbiogenetic cell mergers producing the mitochondrion-bearing ancestor of eukaryotes and chloroplast-bearing ancestors of photosynthetic euk...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/6/4/42 |
| _version_ | 1797719956028129280 |
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| author | James A. Shapiro |
| author_facet | James A. Shapiro |
| author_sort | James A. Shapiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Evolutionary variations generating phenotypic adaptations and novel taxa resulted from complex cellular activities altering genome content and expression: (i) Symbiogenetic cell mergers producing the mitochondrion-bearing ancestor of eukaryotes and chloroplast-bearing ancestors of photosynthetic eukaryotes; (ii) interspecific hybridizations and genome doublings generating new species and adaptive radiations of higher plants and animals; and, (iii) interspecific horizontal DNA transfer encoding virtually all of the cellular functions between organisms and their viruses in all domains of life. Consequently, assuming that evolutionary processes occur in isolated genomes of individual species has become an unrealistic abstraction. Adaptive variations also involved natural genetic engineering of mobile DNA elements to rewire regulatory networks. In the most highly evolved organisms, biological complexity scales with “non-coding” DNA content more closely than with protein-coding capacity. Coincidentally, we have learned how so-called “non-coding” RNAs that are rich in repetitive mobile DNA sequences are key regulators of complex phenotypes. Both biotic and abiotic ecological challenges serve as triggers for episodes of elevated genome change. The intersections of cell activities, biosphere interactions, horizontal DNA transfers, and non-random Read-Write genome modifications by natural genetic engineering provide a rich molecular and biological foundation for understanding how ecological disruptions can stimulate productive, often abrupt, evolutionary transformations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:12:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de31d834b1a14f0184dd66348659bec9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:12:18Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-de31d834b1a14f0184dd66348659bec92023-09-02T14:55:58ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372017-12-01644210.3390/biology6040042biology6040042Living Organisms Author Their Read-Write Genomes in EvolutionJames A. Shapiro0Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago GCIS W123B, 979 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USAEvolutionary variations generating phenotypic adaptations and novel taxa resulted from complex cellular activities altering genome content and expression: (i) Symbiogenetic cell mergers producing the mitochondrion-bearing ancestor of eukaryotes and chloroplast-bearing ancestors of photosynthetic eukaryotes; (ii) interspecific hybridizations and genome doublings generating new species and adaptive radiations of higher plants and animals; and, (iii) interspecific horizontal DNA transfer encoding virtually all of the cellular functions between organisms and their viruses in all domains of life. Consequently, assuming that evolutionary processes occur in isolated genomes of individual species has become an unrealistic abstraction. Adaptive variations also involved natural genetic engineering of mobile DNA elements to rewire regulatory networks. In the most highly evolved organisms, biological complexity scales with “non-coding” DNA content more closely than with protein-coding capacity. Coincidentally, we have learned how so-called “non-coding” RNAs that are rich in repetitive mobile DNA sequences are key regulators of complex phenotypes. Both biotic and abiotic ecological challenges serve as triggers for episodes of elevated genome change. The intersections of cell activities, biosphere interactions, horizontal DNA transfers, and non-random Read-Write genome modifications by natural genetic engineering provide a rich molecular and biological foundation for understanding how ecological disruptions can stimulate productive, often abrupt, evolutionary transformations.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/6/4/42genome rewritingnatural genetic engineeringsymbiogenesisholobionthybrid speciationhorizontal DNA transfermobile DNA elementsnetwork rewiringrepetitive DNA formattingecological challenge |
| spellingShingle | James A. Shapiro Living Organisms Author Their Read-Write Genomes in Evolution Biology genome rewriting natural genetic engineering symbiogenesis holobiont hybrid speciation horizontal DNA transfer mobile DNA elements network rewiring repetitive DNA formatting ecological challenge |
| title | Living Organisms Author Their Read-Write Genomes in Evolution |
| title_full | Living Organisms Author Their Read-Write Genomes in Evolution |
| title_fullStr | Living Organisms Author Their Read-Write Genomes in Evolution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Living Organisms Author Their Read-Write Genomes in Evolution |
| title_short | Living Organisms Author Their Read-Write Genomes in Evolution |
| title_sort | living organisms author their read write genomes in evolution |
| topic | genome rewriting natural genetic engineering symbiogenesis holobiont hybrid speciation horizontal DNA transfer mobile DNA elements network rewiring repetitive DNA formatting ecological challenge |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/6/4/42 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jamesashapiro livingorganismsauthortheirreadwritegenomesinevolution |