title: The role of selfish genetic elements in eukaryotic evolution.
abstract: 'Selfish genetic elements', such as transposons, homing endonucleases, meiotic drive chromosomes and heritable microorganisms, are common features of eukaryotes. However, their importance in the evolution of eukaryotic genomes is still controversial. In this review, we discuss these diverse elements and their potential importance in the evolution of genetic systems, adaptation, and the extinction and birth of species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University College London, 4 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HE, UK. g.hurst@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Hurst
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Werren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000235:genetics; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000235:genetics; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D020071:Interspersed Repetitive Sequences / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes