The human Alu SINE sequences--is there a role for selection in their evolution?
The Alu sequence is a SINE (Short INterspersed Element) that is abundant in the human genome. A new analysis (1) reveals an unexpected conservation of some bases in the DNA sequence of the element. The bases involved include those forming an RNA polymerase III promoter. An unresolved question is whether this conservation results from selection for transposability. This, in turn, is related to the larger question of the evolutionary relationship between members of the Alu sequence family.
Brookfield
J F
JF
Department of Genetics, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, UK.
D016384:Consensus Sequence; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D018626:Retroelements / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic
D018626:Retroelements