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From the margins of the genome: mobile elements shape primate evolution
Author(s) -
Hedges Dale J.,
Batzer Mark A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.20268
Subject(s) - mobile genetic elements , genome , evolutionary biology , biology , primate , host (biology) , genetics , ecology , gene
As is the case with mammals in general, primate genomes are inundated with repetitive sequence. Although much of this repetitive content consists of “molecular fossils” inherited from early mammalian ancestors, a significant portion of this material comprises active mobile element lineages. Despite indications that these elements played a major role in shaping the architecture of the genome, there remain many unanswered questions surrounding the nature of the host‐element relationship. Here we review advances in our understanding of the host–mobile element dynamic and its overall impact on primate evolution. BioEssays 27:785–794, 2005. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.