Once Believed to Be Junk, Viral Ancient DNA Has Been Ghost Writing Our Genetic Code
We all have one: a garbage drawer that we fill all our random objects – and often useless – that we cannot throw away. However, from time to time, there is something in this drawer that ends up being more useful than we thought initially. According to a new study, this is also true for the human body.
Scientists discovered that “Undesirable” DNASupposed to have been independent in our bodies since we stand on two legs, actually worked overtime. The new research, published in Scientific advancesAffirm that this previously rejected genetic junk plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression.
“Our genome was sequenced a long time ago, but the function of many of its parts remains unknown,” said Fumitaka Inoue, an associate professor at the University of Kyoto, in a press release. “We think that transposable elements play an important role in the evolution of the genome, and their meaning should become clearer as research continues.”
Justice for unwanted DNA
In this study, researchers were interested in a particular family DNA Sequences called sea11. This family of sequences is made up of what are called transposable elements (TES), repetitive DNA sequences from old viruses. After millions of years of primates, your now represents almost half of the human genome thanks to their copy and brown sugar mechanism.
Although they are prominent throughout the body, TES was not a major objective of genetic research for two main reasons. First, the high rate of replication and similarity between copies makes these sequences difficult to study. Second, you have always been considered useless, without any important scientific function that deserves to be studied.
Thanks to this new study, the TES are now recognized for all the hidden genetic work they have done. In particular, the MER11 family of DNA sequences has a considerable impact on the expression of genes at the start of human development.
Learn more:: More like a film than a portrait – a new DNA model redefines family history
What is gene expression?
Genes expression is a process that transforms information into action. A popular way of thinking about the process of expression of genes is like a switch which controls when, where and how much a molecule or a protein is expressed. These on / off switches control a wide range of genetic functions, the color of your hair, namely whether your body can produce insulin or not.
Mer11 has now been identified as one of these crucial genetic switches, rewriting the belief that you do not play any important role in our body.
Discover the role of old unwanted DNA
Scientists were able to make this surprising discovery using a technique that tests thousands of DNA sequences at the same time and measures their influence on gene activity. The research team has analyzed more than 7,000 MER11 sequences, and these analyzes have shown that a particular sea subfamille has had a significant effect on gene expressionin particular linked to development signals and environmental indices.
Interestingly, the sequences of sea11 through the primates have evolved in different ways, the sequences of humans, chimpanzees and macaques being each distinct from each other. In future research, the team hopes to continue to explore these evolutionary differences in sea11 between primates to find out more about the complex biological role of ancient viral DNA.
This study is an excellent reminder that waste from one primate can be another (genetic) treasure from another primate!
Learn more:: Genes have an impact on psychology and how they influence your behavior
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As a Marketing Coordinator of Discover magazine, Stephanie Edwards interacts with readers through the social networks of Discover and writes digital content. Offline, she is responsible for courses in English and cultural studies at Lakehead University, by teaching lessons on everything, from professional communication to Taylor Swift, and obtained her graduate diplomas in the same department of McMaster University. You can find more of its scientific writing in the laboratory and its short fiction in anthologies and the literary magazine through the kind of horror.
