title: Transposable elements and the evolution of eukaryotic complexity.
abstract: Eukaryotic transposable elements are ubiquitous and widespread mobile genetic entities. These elements often make up a substantial fraction of the host genomes in which they reside. For example, approximately 1/2 of the human genome was recently shown to consist of transposable element sequences. There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates that transposable elements have been major players in genome evolution. A sample of this evidence is reviewed here with an emphasis on the role that transposable elements may have played in driving the evolution of eukaryotic complexity. A number of specific scenarios are presented that implicate transposable elements in the evolution of the complex molecular and cellular machinery that are characteristic of the eukaryotic domain of life.
authors.affiliation: Section on Eukaryotic Transposable Elements, Laboratory of Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: I King
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Jordan
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D012098:Reproduction
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D021901:DNA, Intergenic