Medstrand P, van de Lagemaat L N, Dunn C A, Landry J-R, Svenback D, Mager D L
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Biomedical Centre, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Cytogenet Genome Res. 2005;110(1-4):342-52. doi: 10.1159/000084966.
Transposable elements (TEs) are present in all organisms and nearly half of the human and mouse genome is derived from ancient transpositions. This fact alone suggests that TEs have played a major role in genome organization and evolution. Studies undertaken over the last two decades or so clearly show that TEs of various kinds have played an important role in organism evolution. Here we review the impact TEs have on the evolution of gene regulation and gene function with an emphasis on humans. Understanding the mechanisms resulting in genomic change is central to our understanding of gene regulation, genetic disease and genome evolution. Full comprehension of these biological processes is not possible without an in depth knowledge of how TEs impact upon the genome.
转座元件（TEs）存在于所有生物中，人类和小鼠基因组近一半都源自古代转座事件。仅这一事实就表明TEs在基因组组织和进化中发挥了重要作用。过去二十年左右进行的研究清楚地表明，各种TEs在生物进化中发挥了重要作用。在此，我们重点围绕人类来综述TEs对基因调控和基因功能进化的影响。理解导致基因组变化的机制是我们理解基因调控、遗传疾病和基因组进化的核心。如果不深入了解TEs如何影响基因组，就不可能全面理解这些生物学过程。
