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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
11:52
Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level
Published on: April 23, 2016
Genetics. Transposons help sculpt a dynamic genome
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 19, 2000
Abstract:
New research is showing that the mobile genetic elements called transposons cause more extensive restructuring of the genome than previously thought. Researchers have known for about 20 years that transposons can expand the genome, resulting in the repetitive DNA sequences sometimes called "junk," but the new work indicates that transposons can also contribute to substantial DNA losses. What's more, these changes can be rapid--at least on an evolutionary scale--and may help organisms adapt to their environments.
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