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Related Concept Videos

Transposons01:24

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...
Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

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...
DNA-only Transposons02:57

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...
LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

LTR retrotransposons are class I transposable elements with long terminal repeats flanking an internal coding region. These elements are less abundant in mammals compared to other class I transposable elements. About 8 percent of human genomic DNA comprises LTR retrotransposons. Some of the common examples of LTR retrotransposons are Ty elements in yeast and Copia elements in Drosophila.
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
Transduction01:16

Transduction

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
04:04

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity

Published on: January 20, 2023

Intergenic transposable elements are not randomly distributed in bacteria.

Gordon R Plague

    Genome Biology and Evolution
    |August 11, 2010
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Insertion sequences (ISs) are mobile genetic elements. Natural selection favors ISs located between convergent genes, suggesting insertion site preference based on gene orientation.

    More Related Videos

    Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Location(s) for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach
    11:12

    Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Location(s) for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach

    Published on: September 11, 2017

    Generating Transposon Insertion Libraries in Gram-Negative Bacteria for High-Throughput Sequencing
    08:19

    Generating Transposon Insertion Libraries in Gram-Negative Bacteria for High-Throughput Sequencing

    Published on: July 7, 2020

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

    Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
    04:04

    Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity

    Published on: January 20, 2023

    Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Location(s) for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach
    11:12

    Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Location(s) for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach

    Published on: September 11, 2017

    Generating Transposon Insertion Libraries in Gram-Negative Bacteria for High-Throughput Sequencing
    08:19

    Generating Transposon Insertion Libraries in Gram-Negative Bacteria for High-Throughput Sequencing

    Published on: July 7, 2020

    Area of Science:

    • Bacterial genomics
    • Mobile genetic elements
    • Evolutionary biology

    Background:

    • Insertion sequences (ISs) are mobile genetic elements found in bacterial genomes.
    • Intergenic IS elements are generally less harmful than intragenic ones due to a lower risk of disrupting genes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate if neighboring gene orientations (NGOs) influence the selective pressure on intergenic IS insertion.
    • To test the hypothesis that not all intergenic locations are equally favorable for ISs.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of the NGOs of intergenic ISs across 326 bacterial chromosomes.
    • Statistical analysis of IS distribution in 116 genomes with sufficient IS elements.

    Main Results:

    • A significant excess of ISs was observed between convergently oriented genes in 68 genomes.
    • A significant deficit of ISs was found between divergently oriented genes in 46 genomes.

    Conclusions:

    • Natural selection actively shapes the distribution of intergenic ISs in bacterial genomes.
    • IS elements appear least disruptive between convergent gene pairs and most disruptive between divergent gene pairs.