Selfish genetic element
GENETIC MATERIAL THAT PROMOTES ITS OWN TRANSMISSION
Parasitic DNA; Selfish genes; Selfish dna; Parasitic gene; Selfish genetic elements; Selfish DNA; Selfish Genetic Elements; Ultra-selfish genes; Genomic outlaws; Parasitic RNA; Genomic parasite
Selfish genetic elements (historically also referred to as selfish genes, ultra-selfish genes, selfish DNA, parasitic DNA and genomic outlaws) are genetic segments that can enhance their own transmission at the expense of other genes in the genome, even if this has no positive or a net negative effect on organismal fitness. Genomes have traditionally been viewed as cohesive units, with genes acting together to improve the fitness of the organism.