The genomic distribution of transposable elements is driven by spatially variable purifying selection.

ABSTRACT: It is widely accepted that the genomic distribution of transposable elements (TEs) mainly reflects the outcome of purifying selection and insertion bias (1). Nevertheless, the relative importance of these two evolutionary forces could not be tested thoroughly. Here, we introduce an experimental system, which allows separating purifying selection from TE insertion bias. We used experimental evolution to study the TE insertion patterns in Drosophila simulans founder populations harboring 1040 insertions of an active P-element. After 10 generations at a large population size, we detected strong selection against P-element insertions. The exception were P-element insertions in genomic regions for which a strong insertion bias has been proposed (2-4). Because recurrent P-element insertions cann

SUBMITTER: Langmuller AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10516647 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature