Article
RNA-templated diversity generation via reverse transcription and homologous recombination: an evolutionary hypothesis.
Theory in biosciences = Theorie in den Biowissenschaften - 17 Apr 2026
Mariani Matteo G E
Abstract excerpt
It is commonly believed that organisms diversify their genomes primarily through point mutations, insertions, and deletions. Here, I propose a complementary mechanism: Diversity Generation by Reverse Transcriptase (DGbyRT), in which cellular or exogenous RNAs are reverse transcribed into cDNA and integrated into the genome via homology-directed recombination. This process enables the reuse of modular genetic...
Topics
- Reverse Transcription
- Evolution, Molecular
- Retroelements
- Pseudogenes
- RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
- Homologous Recombination
- RNA
- Animals
- Models, Genetic
- Genetic Variation
- Mutation
- Humans
- Telomerase
- Genome
- DNA, Complementary