Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Nov;22(11):691-711.
doi: 10.1038/s41576-021-00385-1. Epub 2021 Aug 5.

Transposable elements shape the evolution of mammalian development

Anna D Senft  1 , Todd S Macfarlan  2
Affiliations
Review

Transposable elements shape the evolution of mammalian development

Anna D Senft et al. Nat Rev Genet. 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Transposable elements (TEs) promote genetic innovation but also threaten genome stability. Despite multiple layers of host defence, TEs actively shape mammalian-specific developmental processes, particularly during pre-implantation and extra-embryonic development and at the maternal-fetal interface. Here, we review how TEs influence mammalian genomes both directly by providing the raw material for genetic change and indirectly via co-evolving TE-binding Krüppel-associated box zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs). Throughout mammalian evolution, individual activities of ancient TEs were co-opted to enable invasive placentation that characterizes live-born mammals. By contrast, the widespread activity of evolutionarily young TEs may reflect an ongoing co-evolution that continues to impact mammalian development.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Lander, E. S. et al. Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome. Nature 409, 860–921 (2001). - PubMed - DOI
    1. Chimpanzee Sequencing and Analysis Consortium. Initial sequence of the chimpanzee genome and comparison with the human genome. Nature 437, 69–87 (2005). - DOI
    1. Waterston, R. H. et al. Initial sequencing and comparative analysis of the mouse genome. Nature 420, 520–562 (2002). - PubMed - DOI
    1. Long, H. K., Prescott, S. L. & Wysocka, J. Ever-changing landscapes: transcriptional enhancers in development and evolution. Cell 167, 1170–1187 (2016). - PubMed - PMC - DOI
    1. Wells, J. N. & Feschotte, C. A field guide to eukaryotic transposable elements. Annu. Rev. Genet. 54, 539-561 (2020). This article is a comprehensive introduction to features and distribution of major TE groups across eukaryote genomes in the context of their biology and evolution.

Publication types

Substances

LinkOut - more resources