"Self -selfish super gene" seriously destroys genetic diversity

Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, July 7 (Reporter Zhang Mengran) Biologists at the University of Rochester use group genome to clarify the evolution and consequences of a "selfish genetic element" called separate disguise factor (SD). Paper published in the "ELIFE" magazine shows that SD has caused tremendous changes in chromosomal tissue and genetic diversity.

The human genome is full of "selfish" genetic elements. These elements seem to be no good for the host, but just seek self -breeding.

Researchers use fruit flies as model creatures to study SD. About 70%of fruit flies have the same genes that cause human diseases, and because their reproductive cycle is short to less than two weeks, scientists can create several generations of fruit flies in a relatively short period of time.

As Montel's Law Institute expected, the female fruit flies passed the chromosomes of SD infection to about 50%of offspring. However, male will pass SD chromosome to its offspring of nearly 100%because SD will kill any sperm without selfish genetic elements.

For decades, researchers have known that SD has evolved into a super -GM, but this is the first time they have used the dynamics, evolution and long -term impacts of the dynamics, evolution and genome evolution of group genome research. Group genomics is a full genome mode to check the DNA sequence variation between individuals in the group.

The advantage of ultra -gene is that multiple genes can work together, resulting in SD perfectly passed to future generations. However, as researchers have discovered, there are major defects of ultra -gene.

In sexual reproduction, chromosomal exchange genetic substances from mothers and fathers to generate new genetic combinations unique to each descendant. In most cases, the chromosomes are arranged correctly and crossing. Scientists have long realized that the exchange of genetic material in cross (referred to as reorganization) is critical, because it enables natural choices to eliminate harmful mutations and promote the spread of beneficial mutations.

And selfish genetic elements are closed and reorganized to ensure that they are passed on to all offspring, so as to obtain a short -term communication advantage. However, SD does not have "forward -looking" nature: Compared with normal chromosomes, preventing the reorganization from causing SD to accumulate more harmful mutations.

Researchers said that if there is no reorganization, natural choices cannot effectively remove harmful mutations, so they will accumulate on SD chromosomes, and these mutations may destroy the function or regulation of genes. The lack of reorganization may also lead to signs of degeneration in evolution.

【Chief Editor Circle Point】

Scientists judged that SD may be related to the formation of species a few years ago. Because this gene is focused on "selfish reproduction", the chromosomes that carry it more frequently spread to future generations, and can even start the "arms race" with the "hostile forces" genes, and then evolve quickly, further control the gender through the gender of offspring, etc. Wait. This has also led to selfish genetic factors not only selfishly breeding, but also caused a bad impact. For example, distorting gender proportions, damage to fertility, harmful mutations, and even leading group extinction. Thoroughly recognizing the true face of selfish genes is not only a hurdle that must be trapped in the field of research on species, but also a part of our human beings that must pass through the internal genetic environment.

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