Genome coding and noncoding structure function and evolution in Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies and Hordeum spontaneum in Israel: a review (Rodentia: Spalacidae)

The structure and function of the intergenic noncoding genome (repeatome) whether “selfish” and “junk” or “biochemically functional and regulatory” is still hotly debated, despite the mounting empirical and theoretical evidence supporting the regulatory role, provided by transposable elements, and the ENCODE results. In our studies in Israel on sympatric speciation (SS) in two evolutionary speciation models of abutting divergent ecologies, microclimatic at “Evolution Canyon” and geologic-edaphic at “Evolution Plateau”, we showed genomically that SS is a common speciation model across life from bacteria to mammals. Since such contrasting and abutting ecologies, climatic, geologic, edaphic, abiotic and biotic abound globally, SS might be a common speciation model across the planet. During our SS studies we discovered an additional remarkable result supporting the regulatory role of the repeatome. We found that the noncoding genome, in both subterranean mammals and wild barley at “Evolution Plateau” present a genomic mirror image of the coding genome supporting the regulatory hypothesis of the repeatome. Moreover, the repeatome also succeeded to identify the four subterranean chromosomal climatically adaptive mole rat species in Israel. This genomic mirror imaging and repeatome function is now open to genomic exploration across life.