University of Adelaide research reveals that gene jumpers are common in evolution

The genetic code in every cell of our body contains DNA common to hundreds of other species.

How did he get here? Why?

Scientists from the University of Adelaide are just beginning to answer these questions

In the world's largest study on "jumping genes", scientists have searched in DNA of 759 species two suspect genes. 19659003] All but two mammals (echidna and the platypus), many other animals, plants and some fungi shared the leaping gene known as L1. In humans, this gene is badociated with cancer and neurological disorders.

The foreign DNA can disrupt other genes and the jumping genes are scattered throughout the genetic code, in the form of multiple copies of the same short sequence

Dr. Atma Ivancevic , principal investigator at the University of Adelaide, said that it was the first time that anyone had demonstrated that the L1 had jumped between species

"It was thought that the elements L1 were inherited only from parents. "Most studies only looked at a handful of species and found no evidence of transfer.We looked at as many species as we could."

A second gene jumping (BovB ), found in cows, has also been found in elephants, reptiles and marsupials. Ticks were most likely to be responsible for the transfer of DNA

Researchers have now found BovB in frogs and bats, with possible transmission by bedbugs, leeches and locusts

"There are many more species to study and other types of jumping genes," he says.

The study of insects will probably reveal more evidence of inter-species transfers. The team intends to look more closely at the worms and nematodes

The research was published in the journal Genome Biology in collaboration with the South Australian Museum.