Although most are silenced, certain transposable elements (TEs) have been co-opted by the host. Here, the authors quantify the epigenomic status of TEs using data from the Roadmap Epigenomics Project, provide a systematic profile of TE activity across normal human tissues and development, finding that TEs encompass a quarter of the human regulatory epigenome, with 47% of TEs in regulatory states.
- Erica C. Pehrsson
- Mayank N. K. Choudhary
- Ting Wang