Pervasive transcription means that most of the genome is being transcribed (pervasive = widespread).
One view in genomics business has been that most of the DNA in some organisms incuding humans is junk, or evolutionary baggage, and is not transcribed (let alone translated). Thus, the realization that most of the DNA is transcribed was surprising. So, people use the phrase "pervasive transcription" to emphasize the fact that transcription of DNA is widespread and not restricted to the small percentage of protein coding DNA.
chanderbio,
Pervasive transcription means that most of the genome is being transcribed (pervasive = widespread).
One view in genomics business has been that most of the DNA in some organisms incuding humans is junk, or evolutionary baggage, and is not transcribed (let alone translated). Thus, the realization that most of the DNA is transcribed was surprising. So, people use the phrase "pervasive transcription" to emphasize the fact that transcription of DNA is widespread and not restricted to the small percentage of protein coding DNA.
Cheers,
Thanks Suola. Is "pervasive transcription" a speculation in Genomics or there are any studies that prove the existence of pervasive transcription?
chanderbio,
It is a very real phenomenon, genome-scale transcriptomics studies have shown this...
Some review articles below.
Nature Reviews Genetics review:
http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v10/n12/abs/nrg2683.html
EMBO Reports review:
http://www.nature.com/embor/journal/v10/n9/abs/embor2009181.html
Briefings in Functional Genomics review:
http://bfgp.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/8/6/407
Cheers,
Thanks Suola. I found the articles interesting and hope there is a much scope of research, in this field, in near future.
Regards,
chanderbio
I have compiled a number of links to the literature, popular press, and related websites pertaining to pervasive transcription here:
http://pervasivetranscription.com
Additional suggestions? Let me know (contact link at bottom of that page)