Transposons, Genome Size, and Evolutionary Insights in Animals
Abstract
The relationship between genome size and the percentage of transposons in 161 animal species evidenced that variations in genome size are linked to the amplification or the contraction of transposable elements. The activity of transposable elements could represent a response to environmental stressors. Indeed, although with different trends in protostomes and deuterostomes, comprehensive changes in genome size were recorded in concomitance with particular periods of evolutionary history or adaptations to specific environments. During evolution, genome size and the presence of transposable elements have influenced structural and functional parameters of genomes and cells. Changes of these parameters have had an impact on morphological and functional characteristics of the organism on which natural selection directly acts. Therefore, the current situation represents a balance between insertion and amplification of transposons and the mechanisms responsible for their deletion or for decreasing their activity. Among the latter, methylation and the silencing action of small RNAs likely represent the most frequent mechanisms.
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Genome size within most cypriniform families was remarkably conserved.
“Genome size within most families was remarkably conserved, consistent with patterns reported across teleosts more broadly (43, 44)”
From Convergent genome streamlining accompanies independent miniaturization in the world’s smallest fishes (2026) · cites this paper as [43]
Depletion of LTR elements and DNA transposons suggests either reduced transposition activity, increased elimination of newly inserted elements, or both, consistent with mechanisms proposed for genome compaction in other vertebrates with streamlined genomes.
“Depletion of these elements suggests either reduced transposition activity, increased elimination of newly inserted elements, or both, consistent with mechanisms proposed for genome compaction in other vertebrates with streamlined genomes (31, 43, 53, 56).”
From Convergent genome streamlining accompanies independent miniaturization in the world’s smallest fishes (2026) · cites this paper as [43]
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DNA methylation enables transposable element-driven genome expansion
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Sudasinghe, H., Matschiner, M., Britz, R., Conway, K. W., Tan, H. H., Salzburger, W., Peichel, C. L., & Rüber, L. (2026) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2614605123
- Authors
- Canapa, A., Barucca, M., Biscotti, M. A., Forconi, M., & Olmo, E.
- Affiliations
- Marche Polytechnic University (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Olmo, Ettore
- Venue
- Cytogenetic and Genome Research
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2015
- Volume
- 147
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 217-239
- ISSN
- 1424-859X (ISSN-L)
- 1424-8581
- OpenAlex
- W2293840722
- Cited by
- 164
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 8.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cytogenetic and Genome Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Università Politecnica delle Marche (Università Politecnica delle Marche) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genome Rearrangement Algorithms
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Keywords
- transposable elements, genome size, animal evolution, protostomes, deuterostomes, transposon amplification, environmental stress, small RNA silencing, transposon inactivation
- MeSH terms
- Animals, DNA Transposable Elements, Evolution, Molecular, Genome Size
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