Theoretical Approaches to the Dynamics of Transposable Elements in Genomes, Populations, and Species

Abstract

Transposable elements are major components of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. They are generally considered as “selfish DNA” sequences able to invade the chromosomes of a species in a parasitic way, leading to a plethora of mutations such as insertions, deletions, inversions, translocations and complex rearrangements. They are frequently deleterious, but sometimes provide a source of genetic diversity. Numerous population genetics models have been proposed to describe more precisely the dynamics of these complex genomic components, and despite a wide diversity among transposable elements and their hosts, the colonization process appears to be roughly predictable. In this paper, we aim to describe and comment on some of the theoretical studies, and attempt to define the “life cycle” of these genomic nomads. We further raise some new issues about the impact of moving sequences in the evolution and the structure of genomes.