042-How and when organisms edit their own genomes

This review article from Nature Genetics explores the phenomenon of endogenous genome editing, where organisms programmatically alter their own DNA sequences for specific biological functions, contrasting with random mutations. It categorizes these editing systems into deletions, insertions, and substitutions, highlighting how they often subvert canonical DNA repair pathways and employ similar genetic mechanisms despite their diverse functions across the tree of life. The text also emphasizes the frequent recurrence of these editing systems in host-pathogen conflicts and for genome defense, suggesting that many more remain undiscovered, particularly in understudied organisms.

References:

• Hanlon V C T, Cagan A, Eves-van den Akker S. How and when organisms edit their own genomes[J]. Nature Genetics, 2025: 1-12.