Selfish genes, the phenotype paradigm and genome evolution

Nature. 1980 Apr 17;284(5757):601-3. doi: 10.1038/284601a0.

Abstract

Natural selection operating within genomes will inevitably result in the appearance of DNAs with no phenotypic expression whose only 'function' is survival within genomes. Prokaryotic transposable elements and eukaryotic middle-repetitive sequences can be seen as such DNA's and thus no phenotypic or evolutionary function need be assigned to them.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Cell Physiological Phenomena*
  • DNA / genetics*
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Eukaryotic Cells / physiology*
  • Phenotype*
  • Selection, Genetic

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA