Ubiquity of non-deleterious functions of TE-derived sequences

Determine whether sequences derived from transposable elements (TE) possess similarly ubiquitous non-deleterious functions that contribute to the evolutionary fitness of the host organism, beyond their well-documented deleterious effects on genome integrity.

Background

Transposable elements (TE) comprise approximately half of the human genome and are known for their potentially deleterious impacts on genome integrity due to their transpositional activity. Concurrently, host defense systems have evolved to restrict TE expansion while enabling co-option of TE-derived sequences into regulatory networks across different tissues and developmental contexts.

Despite numerous studies showing TE-derived loci harboring transcription factor binding sites and participating in regulatory programs, the generality and ubiquity of beneficial, non-deleterious functions of TE-derived sequences that may enhance host evolutionary fitness remain uncertain. This problem seeks to clarify whether such functions are pervasive, not merely sporadic or context-dependent.