The Function and Regulation of Transposons
LUO Yini, WANG Lu*
As the most abundant elements in the genome, transposons have thrived in almost all organisms throughout evolution and comprise nearly 50% of the human genome. Transposons represent a potential source of genomic instability that can cause animal sterility and disease, and even potentially drive aging, thereby being largely considered detrimental. Nevertheless, increasing evidence also suggests that hosts have domesticated these genomic parasites to maintain their own development and functions. Therefore, the interaction between hosts and transposons represents a fundamental genetic conflict that shapes numerous biological processes, such as gametogenesis and carcinogenesis. This review will further characterize the new discoveries of the field in transposon biology, including evolution, disease, immunity and regulation mechanisms
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