DNA Jumps Between Animal Species. No One Knows How Often.

[McBell]

A March paper in Trends in Genetics holds the unorthodox explanation: The gene became part of the smelt genome through a direct horizontal transfer from a herring. It wasn’t through hybridization, because herring and smelt can’t crossbreed, as many failed attempts have shown. The herring gene made its way into the smelt genome outside the normal sexual channels.
​

https://www.quantamagazine.org/dna-jumps-between-animal-species-no-one-knows-how-often-20210609/​

 

[We Never Know]

A March paper in Trends in Genetics holds the unorthodox explanation: The gene became part of the smelt genome through a direct horizontal transfer from a herring. It wasn’t through hybridization, because herring and smelt can’t crossbreed, as many failed attempts have shown. The herring gene made its way into the smelt genome outside the normal sexual channels.
​

https://www.quantamagazine.org/dna-jumps-between-animal-species-no-one-knows-how-often-20210609/​

"because herring and smelt can’t crossbreed, as many failed attempts have shown".

Is that based on manmade captive attempts to crossbreed or left in their own natural habitat?

 

[McBell]

"because herring and smelt can’t crossbreed, as many failed attempts have shown".

Is that based on manmade captive attempts to crossbreed or left in their own natural habitat?

I have no idea.

However, in all the comments I have seen about the idea of DNA transfer from herring to smelt, not a single time has it been mentioned that herring and smelt can breed, thus explaining the herring DNA in the smelt.

Nor is there any mention about a hybrid between the two species except to say there isn't one.
And seeing as they share the same habitat, would it not be safe to to assume that if they could interbreed, there would be at least some hybrids in said habitat?

I would like to think if they could interbreed, that would be the very first thing that would be brought to the forefront of the discussions...

 

[We Never Know]

I have no idea.

However, in all the comments I have seen about the idea of DNA transfer from herring to smelt, not a single time has it been mentioned that herring and smelt can breed, thus explaining the herring DNA in the smelt.

Noris there any mention about a hybrid between the two species except to say there isn't one.

I would like to think if they could interbreed, that would be the very first thing that would be brought to the forefront of the discussions...

I was just thinking that some species aren't they same/don't act the same in captive as they do in their natural habitat.
So maybe being captive could be a draw back.
But that's just my thinking.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

A March paper in Trends in Genetics holds the unorthodox explanation: The gene became part of the smelt genome through a direct horizontal transfer from a herring. It wasn’t through hybridization, because herring and smelt can’t crossbreed, as many failed attempts have shown. The herring gene made its way into the smelt genome outside the normal sexual channels.
​

https://www.quantamagazine.org/dna-jumps-between-animal-species-no-one-knows-how-often-20210609/​

According to fish taxonomists, herring and smelt are in two different families, so it is very unlikely they would interbreed. The paper mentions that herring and smelt diverged 250 mya. Another reason to doubt they would be capable of genetic introgression through breeding.

Very interesting, though not a completely new phenomenon. As the article alludes, it is more a matter of how often and, I would think, also how.

Thanks for posting.

 

[We Never Know]

According to fish taxonomists, herring and smelt are in two different families, so it is very unlikely they would interbreed. The paper mentions that herring and smelt diverged 250 mya. Another reason to doubt they would be capable of genetic introgression through breeding.

Very interesting, though not a completely new phenomenon. As the article alludes, it is more a matter of how often and, I would think, also how.

Thanks for posting.

Is it like beating a dead horse?

 

[sun rise]

The article was a very good one and got to my immediate question: how. Two excerpts from that section follow:
...
For decades, genetic engineers have used a similar technique called sperm-mediated gene transfer to make transgenic organisms.
...
Graham’s external-fertilization hypothesis doesn’t fit for these snakes, which fertilize internally and bear live young. Adelson is betting instead on the involvement of parasites. “Parasites go from species to species, they have interesting life cycles, and they can be internal,” he explained. Studies of horizontal transfers in terrestrial species have implicated parasites, too.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

The article was a very good one and got to my immediate question: how. Two excerpts from that section follow:
...
For decades, genetic engineers have used a similar technique called sperm-mediated gene transfer to make transgenic organisms.
...
Graham’s external-fertilization hypothesis doesn’t fit for these snakes, which fertilize internally and bear live young. Adelson is betting instead on the involvement of parasites. “Parasites go from species to species, they have interesting life cycles, and they can be internal,” he explained. Studies of horizontal transfers in terrestrial species have implicated parasites, too.

I was wondering if this might be vector-mediated transfer. I cannot find the article and I read it back in 1992 I think, but it was about gene transfer via mites.

 

[rational experiences]

Human reality knows if science was banned then no human could meddle with natural self owned bodies.

Anything they meddle with living naturally is meddling.

Anything deceased is no longer living.

What you talk about is a destroyed body.

Why we told you are the destroyer warning just humans meddling.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Human reality knows if science was banned then no human could meddle with natural self owned bodies.

Anything they meddle with living naturally is meddling.

Anything deceased is no longer living.

What you talk about is a destroyed body.

Why we told you are the destroyer warning just humans meddling.

People were meddling with plants and animals long before science was formalized. Plants and animals that we eat often look nothing like their wild relatives and this existed long before science was applied to breeding.

You are correct. Anything deceased is no longer living. I cannot argue with that.

The article references the discovery of a natural phenomenon in fish.