PubMed · 2026-02-19
Scientists discovered that ferns carry unusual 'jumping genes' in their chloroplasts — the energy-producing organelles in plant cells — that move around, evolve rapidly, and may spread between plants via horizontal gene transfer, challenging the long-held view that plant chloroplast genomes are stable and static.
MORFFOs (mobile genes) show exceptionally high substitution rates compared to standard chloroplast genes, meaning they evolve far faster than expected for genes in an organelle known for stability.
Across 30 species of Anemiaceae ferns, MORFFOs were found in diverse and shifting locations within the chloroplast genome, confirming their ability to 'transpose' or jump to new positions.
Phylogenetic analysis revealed that MORFFO evolutionary histories do not match those of other chloroplast genes, implying they replicate independently — possibly outside the chloroplast — and spread through horizontal gene transfer between organisms.
