Who Ever Thought Genetic Mutations Were Random? - Review

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"It is doubtful, however, whether even the most

statistically minded geneticists are entirely satisfied that nothing more is involved than the sorting out of random mutations by the natural

selective filter." - Conrad Waddington, father of Epigenetics, Letter to Nature journal the year the MS (theory of evolution) was released in '42


Who Ever Thought Genetic Mutations Were Random?

By Einer Veitia

Genetic mutations are often thought of as random events, but new research is suggesting that they may actually be more controlled than we thought. In a recent study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, found that a specific type of genetic mutation is actually targeted to genes that are important for development.

The researchers studied a type of mutation called a retrotransposon insertion. Retrotransposons are pieces of DNA that can move to different locations in the genome. When a retrotransposon inserts itself into a gene, it can disrupt the gene's function, leading to a mutation.

The researchers found that retrotransposons are more likely to insert themselves into genes that are important for development. This is because these genes are more likely to be expressed, or turned on, during development. When a retrotransposon inserts itself into an expressed gene, it is more likely to have a disruptive effect.

The researchers also found that the targeting of retrotransposon insertions to developmental genes is not random. Instead, it is controlled by a specific protein called ZFP142. ZFP142 binds to retrotransposons and helps to direct them to developmental genes.

These findings suggest that genetic mutations are not as random as we thought. Instead, they may be more controlled than we thought. This has important implications for understanding the causes of genetic diseases and developing new treatments.

For example, if we can understand how ZFP142 targets retrotransposons to developmental genes, we may be able to develop drugs that block this process. This could prevent retrotransposon insertions from disrupting developmental genes and causing genetic diseases.

In addition to the potential for developing new treatments, this research also has implications for understanding the evolution of species. Genetic mutations are the raw material of evolution, so understanding how they occur is essential to understanding how species evolve over time.

The finding that genetic mutations are not as random as we thought suggests that evolution may be more directed than we thought. This is because if mutations are targeted to specific genes, then they are more likely to have a beneficial effect on the organism. This could lead to the evolution of new traits and the adaptation of species to new environments.

Overall, this new research is shedding new light on how genetic mutations occur and how they can lead to disease and evolution. By understanding the mechanisms that control genetic mutations, we may be able to develop new ways to prevent and treat genetic diseases, as well as better understand how species evolve over time.

Additional Information

Addition information: 

  • Retrotransposons are thought to play a role in a variety of genetic diseases, including cancer, autism, and schizophrenia.

  • ZFP142 is a member of a family of proteins called KRAB-ZFPs. KRAB-ZFPs are thought to play a role in a variety of cellular processes, including gene expression and DNA repair.

  • The research on retrotransposon insertions and ZFP142 is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of genetic diseases and evolution.


Neo-Darwinism is the prevailing theory of evolution, which holds that evolution is driven by random mutations and natural selection. Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence of an organism, and natural selection is the process by which organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Non-random mutations challenge neo-Darwinism because they suggest that evolution may be more directed than previously thought. If mutations are not random, but instead targeted to specific genes or regions of the genome, then this could mean that evolution is driven by more than just chance.

There are a number of ways in which non-random mutations could challenge neo-Darwinism. For example:

  • Non-random mutations could lead to more rapid evolution. If mutations are targeted to genes that are important for adaptation, then this could lead to organisms evolving new traits more quickly than if mutations were random.

  • Non-random mutations could lead to the emergence of new genetic pathways. If mutations are targeted to regulatory genes, then this could lead to the emergence of new genetic pathways that control the development and function of organisms.

  • Non-random mutations could lead to the evolution of complex traits. Complex traits, such as the human brain, are thought to be controlled by many different genes. If mutations are targeted to these genes, then this could lead to the evolution of complex traits in a more directed way.

Overall, the research on non-random mutations is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to challenge some of the core assumptions of neo-Darwinism. If mutations are not random, but instead targeted to specific genes or regions of the genome, then this could mean that evolution is driven by more than just chance.

Here are some specific examples of how research on non-random mutations is challenging neo-Darwinism:

  • A recent study found that the rate of mutation of the HbS gene, which protects against malaria, is higher in people from Africa, where malaria is endemic, than in people from Europe, where it is not. This suggests that mutations may be targeted to genes that are important for adaptation to the environment.

  • Another study found that certain types of cancer are caused by mutations that are targeted to specific regulatory genes. This suggests that non-random mutations may play a role in the evolution of cancer.

  • Research on the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria has shown that bacteria can rapidly develop resistance to new antibiotics through non-random mutations. This suggests that non-random mutations may play a role in the rapid evolution of bacteria.

Overall, the research on non-random mutations is challenging neo-Darwinism by suggesting that evolution may be more directed than previously thought. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms that control non-random mutations and their role in evolution.

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