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Related Concept Videos

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...
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Transposons

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LTR Retrotransposons03:08

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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
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Published on: January 20, 2023

How does selfing affect the dynamics of selfish transposable elements?

Thibaud S Boutin1, Arnaud Le Rouzic, Pierre Capy

  • 1LEGS, CNRS UPR9034, IDEEV FR3284, Avenue de la terrasse, Bat 13, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France. pierre.capy@legs.cnrs-gif.fr.

Mobile DNA
|March 8, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Selfing significantly impacts transposable element (TE) dynamics, reducing invasion probability with higher selfing rates. TE dynamics observed in sexual populations also occur in selfing species, offering new insights into mating system effects.

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04:04

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Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Location(s) for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach
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Published on: September 11, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Population Genetics
  • Molecular Evolution
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Theoretical models of transposable element (TE) dynamics often overlook selfing populations.
  • Investigating TE dynamics in partly autogamous (selfing) populations is crucial for a comprehensive understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the impact of selfing on TE dynamics.
  • To simulate short- and long-term TE evolution in populations with varying selfing rates.

Main Methods:

  • Computer simulations of TE evolution.
  • Modeling populations with different proportions of selfing and outcrossing individuals.

Main Results:

  • Increased selfing rates decrease the probability of TE invasion.
  • TE dynamics like complete loss, domestication, and cyclical invasion are observed across mating systems, but their patterns vary with selfing rate.
  • A shift to complete asexuality causes rapid TE loss; intermediate selfing maintains transposition activity.

Conclusions:

  • A clear contrast in TE content is expected between sexual and selfing mating systems.
  • TE dynamics in allogamous (outcrossing) populations are also observable in partly autogamous species.
  • These findings provide insights for comparing species with different mating systems and their TE content.