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DNA-only Transposons

DNA-only Transposons

DNA-only transposons are called autonomous transposons since they code for the enzyme transposase that is required for the transposition mechanism. Insertion of transposons can alter gene functions in multiple ways. They can mutate the gene, alter gene expression by introducing a novel promoter or insulator sequence, introduce new splice sites, and change the mRNA transcripts produced, or remodel chromatin structure.
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

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Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...

Transposons

Transposons

Transposons, or "jumping genes," are small mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that range from 700 to 40,000 base pairs in length. They are found in all organisms and can move within the same chromosome or transfer to different chromosomes. In some cases, transposons can also jump between different host DNA molecules, such as plasmids or viruses, contributing to genetic variability.Barbara McClintock first discovered these mobile genetic elements in the 1940s while studying maize genetics, and she...

Horizontal Gene Transfer

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Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a process where genetic material moves between organisms within the same generation, unlike vertical gene transfer, which occurs from parent to offspring. HGT plays a crucial role in microbial evolution, adaptation, and survival, particularly in shared environments like the human gut.Mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, prophages, integrons, insertion sequences, and transposons facilitate this process. HGT occurs through three primary mechanisms:...

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Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...

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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Reusable Single Cell for Iterative Epigenomic Analyses

Reusable Single Cell for Iterative Epigenomic Analyses

Published on: February 11, 2022

Genome dynamics: transposition and the single cell.

David J Finnegan¹

¹Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK. david.finnegan@ed.ac.uk

Current Biology : CB

|July 31, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Gene assembly in ciliates involves piecing together functional genes from transposon-like segments. This process may reflect ancient transpositional activity that shaped genome evolution and nuclear differentiation.

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Area of Science:

* Molecular Biology
* Genomics
* Evolutionary Biology

Background:

* Ciliate development involves complex genome rearrangements.
* The precise mechanisms underlying gene assembly and nuclear differentiation remain incompletely understood.
* Intervening sequences in ciliate genomes have been historically enigmatic.

Purpose of the Study:

* To investigate the nature and function of intervening sequences in ciliate gene development.
* To explore the potential role of these sequences in genome evolution.
* To understand the origins of germline micronuclear and somatic macronuclear differentiation.

Main Methods:

* Analysis of intervening sequences within ciliate genomes.
* Functional characterization of intervening sequences.
* Comparative genomics to trace evolutionary origins.

Main Results:

* Intervening sequences possess properties characteristic of transposons.
* These transposon-like elements facilitate the assembly of functional genes from fragmented segments.
* Evidence suggests a link between transposition and the divergence of germline and somatic nuclei.

Conclusions:

* Transposon-like elements play a crucial role in ciliate gene assembly during development.
* This mechanism may represent a conserved evolutionary relic driving genome plasticity.
* Transposition likely contributed significantly to the establishment of distinct germline and somatic nuclear lineages in ciliates.