6533b829fe1ef96bd128a529
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Factors Behind Junk DNA in Bacteria
Rosario GilAmparo Latorresubject
Comparative genomicsGeneticslcsh:QH426-470Pseudogenegenome degradationjunk DNApseudogenesBacterial genome sizeReviewBiologyintergenic regions (IGR)GenomeNoncoding DNAlcsh:GeneticsIntergenic regionjunk DNA; pseudogenes; intergenic regions (IGR); insertion sequences (IS); genome degradationGeneticsInsertion sequenceGeneinsertion sequences (IS)Genetics (clinical)description
Although bacterial genomes have been traditionally viewed as being very compact, with relatively low amounts of repetitive and non-coding DNA, this view has dramatically changed in recent years. The increase of available complete bacterial genomes has revealed that many species present abundant repetitive DNA (i.e., insertion sequences, prophages or paralogous genes) and that many of these sequences are not functional but can have evolutionary consequences as concerns the adaptation to specialized host-related ecological niches. Comparative genomics analyses with close relatives that live in non-specialized environments reveal the nature and fate of this bacterial junk DNA. In addition, the number of insertion sequences and pseudogenes, as well as the size of the intergenic regions, can be used as markers of the evolutionary stage of a genome.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-10-12 | Genes |