Transposable Elements and the Evolution of Insects

Insects are major contributors to our understanding of the interaction between transposable elements (TEs) and their hosts, owing seminal discoveries, as well growing number sequenced insect genomes population genomics functional studies. Insect TE landscapes highly variable both within across orders, although phylogenetic relatedness appears correlate with similarity in content. This correlation is unlikely be solely due inheritance TEs from shared ancestors may partly reflect preferential horizontal transfer closely related species. The influence traits on landscapes, however, remains unclear. Recent findings indicate that, addition being involved adaptations aging, seemingly at cornerstone antiviral immunity. Thus, emerging essential symbionts that have deleterious or beneficial consequences depending context.