selfish-dna
Selfish DNA refers to genetic elements that propagate themselves within a genome at the expense of the organism's overall fitness, acting as molecular parasites rather than contributors to organismal function. In plant science, understanding selfish genetic elements is crucial because they can drive genome size variation, influence chromosome evolution, and shape reproductive strategies across plant lineages. Studying how plants suppress or tolerate these elements offers insight into fundamental mechanisms of genome stability and plant adaptation.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 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.
