Petar Pajic Evolutionary Balancing of Genetic Consequence and Innovation in Mammals Through Variable Number Tandem Repeats
Understanding genomic function has historically relied on sequence conservation across evolutionary time. However, functional innovations often arise from rapidly evolving, nonconserved elements. Variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) act as engines of both functional innovation and phenotypic consequence, influencing gene regulation, protein structure, and phenotypic diversity. This review synthesizes emerging insights into the functional and evolutionary impact of VNTRs in mammals, outlining the mutational mechanisms driving their evolution, the selective forces maintaining structural heterogeneity, and a theoretical framework for their persistence through evolutionary tradeoffs.
