title: The agents of natural genome editing.
abstract: The DNA serves as a stable information storage medium and every protein which is needed by the cell is produced from this blueprint via an RNA intermediate code. More recently it was found that an abundance of various RNA elements cooperate in a variety of steps and substeps as regulatory and catalytic units with multiple competencies to act on RNA transcripts. Natural genome editing on one side is the competent agent-driven generation and integration of meaningful DNA nucleotide sequences into pre-existing genomic content arrangements, and the ability to (re-)combine and (re-)regulate them according to context-dependent (i.e. adaptational) purposes of the host organism. Natural genome editing on the other side designates the integration of all RNA activities acting on RNA transcripts without altering DNA-encoded genes. If we take the genetic code seriously as a natural code, there must be agents that are competent to act on this code because no natural code codes itself as no natural language speaks itself. As code editing agents, viral and subviral agents have been suggested because there are several indicators that demonstrate viruses competent in both RNA and DNA natural genome editing.
authors: Telos-Philosophische Praxis, Vogelsangstraße 18c, A-5111-Buermoos, Austria. witzany@sbg.at
authors: Guenther
authors: G
authors: Witzany
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D017393:RNA Editing / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012313:RNA