Genetic and epigenetic variations contributed by Alu retrotransposition

Alu retrotransposition-mediated deletion.

Alu repeats contribute to genomic instability in primates via insertional and recombinational mutagenesis. Here, we report an analysis of Alu element-induced genomic instability through a novel mechanism termed retrotransposition-mediated deletion, and assess its impact on the integrity of primate genomes. For human and chimpanzee genomes, we find evidence of 33 retrotransposition-mediated dele...

Retrotransposition of Alu elements: how many sources?

It is generally thought that only a few Alu elements are capable of retrotransposition and that these 'master' sources produce inactive copies. Here, we use a network phylogenetic approach to demonstrate that recently integrated human-specific Alu subfamilies typically contain 10-20% of secondary source elements that contributed 20-40% of all subfamily members. This multiplicity of source eleme...

Genetic Diversity, Habitat Fragmentation and Epigenetic Variations

Cellular inhibitors of long interspersed element 1 and Alu retrotransposition.

Long interspersed element (LINE) 1 retrotransposons are major genomic parasites that represent approximately 17% of the human genome. The LINE-1 ORF2 protein is also responsible for the mobility of Alu elements, which constitute a further approximately 11% of genomic DNA. Representative members of each element class remain mobile, and deleterious retrotransposition events can induce spontaneous...

Epigenetic switch turns on genetic behavioral variations.

What roles do environmental factors, genes, and heredity play in shaping the behaviors of individuals? In his 1963 article entitled “Behavior genetics and individuality understood,” the pioneering behavioral geneticist Jerry Hirsch (1) eloquently articulated that “Individual differences are no accident. They are generated by properties of organisms as fundamental to behavioral science and biolo...