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Related Concept Videos

Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

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...
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DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

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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...
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LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

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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...
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Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

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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...
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Transposons01:24

Transposons

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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...
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Transformation01:26

Transformation

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Microbial communities are dynamic environments where cell lysis releases free DNA into the surroundings. Other cells can take up this extracellular DNA through a process known as transformation.When a cell incorporates this foreign DNA into its genome, resulting in genetic modification, the process is known as transformation. Cells capable of this process are termed competent. Competence can be natural, as observed in certain bacteria and archaea, or artificially induced in the...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Creation of a Dense Transposon Insertion Library Using Bacterial Conjugation in Enterobacterial Strains Such As Escherichia Coli or Shigella flexneri
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Creation of a Dense Transposon Insertion Library Using Bacterial Conjugation in Enterobacterial Strains Such As Escherichia Coli or Shigella flexneri

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Dynamic interactions between transposable elements and their hosts.

Henry L Levin1, John V Moran

  • 1Section on Eukaryotic Transposable Elements, Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. henry_levin@nih.gov

Nature Reviews. Genetics
|August 19, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transposable elements (TEs) can move to new DNA locations and impact host genomes. While hosts have defense mechanisms, TEs employ strategies to persist, sometimes benefiting genome evolution or causing diseases like cancer.

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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences with the capacity to change genomic positions.
  • Second-generation DNA sequencing has illuminated the complex interactions between TEs and their host organisms.
  • Host genomes possess sophisticated defense systems, including small RNAs and epigenetic modifications, to control TE proliferation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on the insertion mechanisms and patterns of transposable elements in various organisms.
  • To explore the diverse strategies employed by TEs to navigate host defense mechanisms.
  • To discuss the dual role of TEs in potentially benefiting genome evolution and contributing to diseases such as cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on transposable elements.
  • Analysis of genomic data from diverse organisms.
  • Integration of findings on TE-host interactions, including small RNA pathways and epigenetic regulation.

Main Results:

  • TEs utilize specific integration sites and activity patterns to evade host defenses.
  • Host defense mechanisms like small RNAs and epigenetic marks are key in regulating TE activity.
  • TE mobilization can enhance genetic diversity, but is also linked to pathologies like cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Transposable elements exhibit remarkable adaptability in colonizing diverse host genomes.
  • The interplay between TEs and host defense systems is a critical factor in genome dynamics.
  • Understanding TE insertion dynamics is crucial for comprehending genome evolution and disease pathogenesis.