00:00If you're curious about the quirks of DNA, then you need to hear about selfish genes.
00:05Meet intraners, the DNA hitchhikers that jump around our genomes.
00:09These genetic elements move within and even between species, spreading segments of DNA called introns.
00:15Introns might sound boring, but they're secret geniuses.
00:19They allow for alternative splicing, a process that lets one gene make multiple proteins, boosting our biological toolkit.
00:26Researchers at UC Santa Cruz found intraners in thousands of species, proving how widespread and important they are.
00:32Even cooler, they've seen these genes jump between species like sea sponges and marine protists.
00:38Understanding intraners could revolutionize health research, giving us new ways to tackle genetic diseases tied to splicing errors.
00:45So next time you think about DNA, remember those sneaky, selfish intraners and their big role in our genetic story.
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