title: On the theory of speciation induced by transposable elements.
abstract: A simple methematical model describes the invasion of panmictic, sexually reproducing populations by a newly introduced transposon. The model places important constraints on the properties that transposons must have to successfully invade a population and describes the kinetics with which such an invasion will occur. Invasibility conditions serve as a basis for new, detailed scenarios whereby transposon-mediated depression in fitness produces reproductive isolation of populations. These scenarios, in turn, lead to several speculations concerning the role of transposons in evolution.
mesh_terms: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005298:Fertility; D008433:Mathematics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements