Genes also 'move across species'! Scientists photograph key evolutionary moment for the first time

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have captured the first direct evidence of genes migrating between different species, a phenomenon previously theorized but never observed. This finding offers new insights into the mechanisms of biological evolution.

A German research team from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology observed a "jumping gene", a mobile segment of DNA, transferring from one microorganism to another. The study, published in Scientific Reports, initially focused on how predatory bacteria hunt archaea. However, researchers unexpectedly detected genetic signals from one microbe within the dead cells of another. Further analysis confirmed it was a jumping gene attempting to enter a new host, marking the first time scientists have directly witnessed such interspecies gene transfer.

While scientists have long suspected that genes could move between species independently of reproduction, direct proof remained elusive until now. These "jumping genes" are segments of DNA that can move to different positions within a genome. Their movement can alter cellular functions, leading scientists to believe they are significant drivers of evolution. The research team found that this particular gene transfer did not involve viruses but utilized "circular RNA" (circRNA).

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Jumping genes are DNA fragments that can move on their own, and when they enter a new location, they sometimes change cell function, thus being considered an important force driving biological evolution.

CircRNA forms a closed loop, making it more stable than conventional RNA. This stability allows it to persist even after the host cell dies, providing an opportunity for the jumping gene to enter a new organism. This discovery reveals previously unknown pathways for gene transfer across species. Circular RNA has recently become a focus in biomedical research due to its association with human metabolism and certain cancers, and it is considered a key technology for next-generation RNA vaccines.

Although this research is fundamental science, it provides the first proof that circRNA might facilitate gene transfer between species. This not only resolves a long-standing question in evolutionary research but also offers new research leads for cancer treatment, RNA-based drugs, and the development of new RNA vaccines.

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Circular RNA has become an important direction in biomedical research in recent years, not only related to human metabolism and the formation of some cancers but also considered an important technology for the next generation of RNA vaccines.