Moderately Repetitive DNA in Evolution

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of moderately repetitive DNA in evolution. Moderately repetitive sequences are found as dispersed segments among unrelated, often single-copy DNA sequences throughout the genome, while simple-sequence DNAs occur in long tandemly repeated clusters, frequently at the centromeric or telomeric regions of chromosomes. The chapter examines data on the organization of the moderately repetitive component in representatives of a spectrum of eukaryote lineages, paying attention to the differences in groups of relatively established phyletic affinity. Information is derived from studies involving direct experimental comparisons within taxa and genomes because this bears on the evolution of moderately repetitive DNA components in different groups. Thus, group-specific or convergent peculiarities may be readily identified. The chapter describes the approaches that can be made using the reassociation and sizing techniques as well as the types of information they have revealed in some prototype studies. The aspects of population genetics and speciation processes which may influence the evolution of moderately repetitive components are also considered.