November 20 @ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Dr. Edward Chuong
Associate Professor, Biofrontiers Institute
University of Colorado Boulder
“Transposon-mediated evolution of immune gene regulatory networks”
Abstract: Mammalian genomes harbor millions of transposon insertions, but most are expected to be inert or silenced. Despite this, our research has uncovered numerous transposons that have been co-opted as infection-inducible enhancers and exons for immune genes, shaping the regulation of host defense responses. These transposons are often species-specific and show context-dependent activity, providing an evolutionary mechanism for rapid regulatory evolution. The recurrent co-option of transposons as regulatory substrates for immune genes is consistent their role as catalysts for regulatory innovations in the face of pathogen pressure.
Host: Max Plikus
Seminar will be held in person only.
For questions about this event, please contact Mayra Rubio at mrubio3@uci.edu.