LymeNet Flash: Transfer of Genetic Material Between Blood-Sucking Insect and Mammals

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Transfer of Genetic Material Between Blood-Sucking Insect and Mammals

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Topic: Transfer of Genetic Material Between Blood-Sucking Insect and Mammals

minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175

posted

Scientists Uncover Transfer of Genetic Material Between Blood-Sucking Insect and Mammals
Science Daily

ScienceDaily (Apr. 30, 2010) -- Researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington have found the first solid evidence of horizontal DNA transfer, the movement of genetic material among non-mating species, between parasitic invertebrates and some of their vertebrate hosts.

Genome biologist C�dric Feschotte and postdoctoral researchers Cl�ment Gilbert and Sarah Schaack found evidence of horizontal transfer of transposon from a South American blood-sucking bug and a pond snail to their hosts. A transposon is a segment of DNA that can replicate itself and move around to different positions within the genome. Transposons can cause mutations, change the amount of DNA in the cell and dramatically influence the structure and function of the genomes where they reside.

"Since these bugs frequently feed on humans, it is conceivable that bugs and humans may have exchanged DNA through the mechanism we uncovered. Detecting recent transfers to humans would require examining people that have been exposed to the bugs for thousands of years, such as native South American populations," Feschotte said.

Data on the insect and the snail provide strong evidence for the previously hypothesized role of host-parasite interactions in facilitating horizontal transfer of genetic material. Additionally, the large amount of DNA generated by the horizontally transferred transposons supports the idea that the exchange of genetic material between hosts and parasites influences their genomic evolution. (More on the Science Daily website)

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RECIDITE, PLEBES! Gero rem imperialem!
(Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.)

Posts: 2331 | From WA | Registered: Jan 2004 | IP: Logged |

lou
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 81

posted

Very interesting and scarey.

Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged |

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