General Machine Machine Unveils Secrets of Our DNA

Scientists Discover a New Approach to Improve the Detection of “Moving Elements” in the Human Genome
The human genome, a complex interweaving of genetic information, contains many unusual features. One of these features is the presence of “moving elements” within the genome, which can jump and move along it. These elements can cause mutations and alter the genetic profile of cells, and also play a crucial role in organizing and expressing the genome. They contribute to the formation of regulatory elements, transcription factor binding sites, and chimeric transcriptions where sections of different genes or parts of the genome combine to form a new hybrid RNA. These moving elements make up approximately half of the human DNA. However, they undergo changes over time that make it challenging to identify and track within the genome. In a recent study led by TRONO from EPFL, scientists have discovered a way to enhance the detection of these elements in the human genome. The study, published in a scientific journal, employed a unique approach using a database of reconstructed ancestor genomes of various types. This database acted as a genomic “time machine,” enabling researchers to compare the human genome with reconstructed genomes of their ancestors. Through this comparison, scientists identified elements in the human genome that had become unrecognizable over millions of years. By utilizing this approach, researchers unveiled a significantly higher proportion of DNA attributed to these moving elements, surpassing previous knowledge in the field. Furthermore, they demonstrated that the newly discovered sequences serve the same regulatory functions as their already identified relatives. The implications of this discovery are monumental. “A deeper understanding of these moving elements and their regulators can lead to new insights into human diseases, many of which are believed to be driven by genetic factors,” states Didier Trono, the leader of the study. “This particularly applies to cancer, autoimmune and metabolic disorders, and the overall response of our bodies to environmental stress and aging.”
Original Article

Scientists Discover a New Approach to Improve the Detection of “Moving Elements” in the Human Genome

The human genome, a complex interweaving of genetic information, contains many unusual features. One of these features is the presence of “moving elements” within the genome, which can jump and move along it. These elements can cause mutations and alter the genetic profile of cells, and also play a crucial role in organizing and expressing the genome. They contribute to the formation of regulatory elements, transcription factor binding sites, and chimeric transcriptions where sections of different genes or parts of the genome combine to form a new hybrid RNA.

These moving elements make up approximately half of the human DNA. However, they undergo changes over time that make it challenging to identify and track within the genome. In a recent study led by TRONO from EPFL, scientists have discovered a way to enhance the detection of these elements in the human genome.

The study, published in a scientific journal, employed a unique approach using a database of reconstructed ancestor genomes of various types. This database acted as a genomic “time machine,” enabling researchers to compare the human genome with reconstructed genomes of their ancestors. Through this comparison, scientists identified elements in the human genome that had become unrecognizable over millions of years.

By utilizing this approach, researchers unveiled a significantly higher proportion of DNA attributed to these moving elements, surpassing previous knowledge in the field. Furthermore, they demonstrated that the newly discovered sequences serve the same regulatory functions as their already identified relatives.

The implications of this discovery are monumental. “A deeper understanding of these moving elements and their regulators can lead to new insights into human diseases, many of which are believed to be driven by genetic factors,” states Didier Trono, the leader of the study. “This particularly applies to cancer, autoimmune and metabolic disorders, and the overall response of our bodies to environmental stress and aging.”

Original Article

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