 Transposable elements, TEs, are a major source of genetic variation in plants, and can cause changes in gene expression levels. In this study, researchers analysed the effects of TEs on gene expression levels in two different rice species, or is a Sativa SSB indica an O. They found that TEs had a significant effect on gene expression levels in both species, and that some of these changes may have been caused by natural selection. This suggests that TEs play an important role in the evolutionary process of rice, and could potentially be used as a tool for improving crop performance. This article was authored by Raul Castanera, Noemia Morales Diaz, Sonal Gupta, and others.