Digest: Does the insertion preference of a transposable element represent a strategy for the mitigation of genetic conflicts with the host?

• DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpae033
• Publication Date: 2024-03-03T14:22:14Z
• Authors: Michelle Louise Z...; Daniel Pacheco Br...
• Keywords: Evolution, Molecular; 0106 biological sciences; Mutagenesis, Insertional; DNA Transposable Elements; Animals; 01 natural sciences

Abstract Transposable elements can exhibit a predilection for specific insertion regions. In a recent study, Munasinghe et al. (2023) consider how variation in where TE families prefer to insert within the genome influences their copy number evolution. The study emphasizes how a preference for neutral insertion sites is only advantageous in conjunction with host restriction mechanisms, which suggests that insertion preference may be a strategy to mitigate genetic conflicts with the host.