title: A test of the master gene hypothesis for interspersed repetitive DNA sequences.
abstract: Many families of interspersed repetitive DNA elements, including human Alu and LINE (Long Interspersed Element) elements, have been proposed to have accumulated through repeated copying from a single source locus: the "master gene." The extent to which a master gene model is applicable has implications for the origin, evolution, and function of such sequences. One repetitive element family for which a convincing case for a master gene has been made is the rodent ID (identifier) elements. Here we devise a new test of the master gene model and use it to show that mouse ID element sequences are not compatible with a strict master gene model. We suggest that a single master gene is rarely, if ever, likely to be responsible for the accumulation of any repeat family.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Louise J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: John F Y
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Brookfield
mesh_terms: D020087:Alu Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018628:Gene Dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D020084:Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*