DNA can jump around. These segments of DNA that move around within the genome are called “transposons.” When the human genome project was completed, >45% of our genome was found to contain DNA segments from transportable elements [1]. Insertion rates of transposons can be estimated, which revealed a varying rate with several peaks throughout primate evolution. (which has since slowed) [2]. Since transposons have previously been associated with adaption, it raises a question of whether rates of new transposon insertions correlate with “evolution speeds” and whether some animals are evolving faster than others, depending on their transposon mobility.
[1] PMID: 11237011
[2] PMID: 14638329
Originally posted on Instagram March 5, 2019
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