Spatiotemporal Tracking of Three Novel Transposable Element Invasions in Drosophila melanogaster over the Last 30 Years.

ABSTRACT: Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive sequences capable of mobilizing within genomes, exerting a significant influence on evolution throughout the tree of life. Using a novel approach that does not require prior knowledge of the sequence of repeats, we identified three novel TE invasions in Drosophila melanogaster: McLE spread between 1990-2000, Souslik between 2009-2012, and Transib1 between 2013-2016. We recapitulate previous findings, revealing that a total of 11 TEs invaded D. melanogaster over the past two centuries. These 11 invasions increased the fly genome by ∼1 Mbp. Using data from over 1,400 arthropod genomes, we provide evidence that these TE invasions were triggered by horizontal transfers, with Drosophila simulans and species of the Drosophila willistoni group acting as

SUBMITTER: Pianezza R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12230796 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature