Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

16.2K
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...
16.2K
Transposons01:24

Transposons

3.2K
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...
3.2K
DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

15.5K
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...
15.5K
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

7.5K
While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
7.5K
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

2.5K
2.5K
Comparing Mitochondrial, Chloroplast, and Prokaryotic Genomes02:16

Comparing Mitochondrial, Chloroplast, and Prokaryotic Genomes

11.5K
The present-day mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes have retained some of the characteristics of their ancestral prokaryotes and also have acquired new attributes during their evolution within eukaryotic cells. Like prokaryotic genomes, mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes neither bind with histone-like proteins nor show complex packaging into chromosome-like structures, as observed in eukaryotes. Unlike mitotic cell divisions observed in eukaryotic cells, mitochondria and chloroplasts...
11.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Chemokine ligand-receptor interactions as potential therapeutic targets for atopic dermatitis: from basic to clinical research.

Frontiers in allergy·2026
Same author

An HTLV-1-Infected Humanized Mouse Model Expressing HLA-A*02:01 Demonstrates Effective CTL-Mediated Suppression of HTLV-1.

Viruses·2025
Same author

Advances in cancer genomics and precision oncology.

Genes & genomics·2025
Same author

Contents of paeoniflorin and albiflorin in two Korean landraces of Paeonia lactiflora and characterization of paeoniflorin biosynthesis genes in peony.

Genes & genomics·2024
Same author

O- and N-Methyltransferases in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid producing plants.

Genes & genomics·2023
Same author

Thymocyte Development of Humanized Mice Is Promoted by Interactions with Human-Derived Antigen Presenting Cells upon Immunization.

International journal of molecular sciences·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 22, 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

2.2K

Transposable elements and genome size variations in plants.

Sung-Il Lee1, Nam-Soo Kim1

  • 1Department of Molecular Bioscience, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Korea.

Genomics & Informatics
|October 16, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Plant genome size varies greatly due to transposable elements, particularly long terminal repeat retrotransposons. Epigenetic and genome-purging mechanisms help regulate this expansion, but failures contribute to exceptionally large genomes in genera like Lilium and Fritillaria.

Keywords:
C-valueDNA transposable elementsLTR retrotransposonsgenome sizegenome-purging

More Related Videos

Generating Transgenic Plants with Single-copy Insertions Using BIBAC-GW Binary Vector
12:08

Generating Transgenic Plants with Single-copy Insertions Using BIBAC-GW Binary Vector

Published on: March 28, 2018

12.2K
Optimization and Comparative Analysis of Plant Organellar DNA Enrichment Methods Suitable for Next-generation Sequencing
12:33

Optimization and Comparative Analysis of Plant Organellar DNA Enrichment Methods Suitable for Next-generation Sequencing

Published on: July 28, 2017

11.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 22, 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

2.2K
Generating Transgenic Plants with Single-copy Insertions Using BIBAC-GW Binary Vector
12:08

Generating Transgenic Plants with Single-copy Insertions Using BIBAC-GW Binary Vector

Published on: March 28, 2018

12.2K
Optimization and Comparative Analysis of Plant Organellar DNA Enrichment Methods Suitable for Next-generation Sequencing
12:33

Optimization and Comparative Analysis of Plant Organellar DNA Enrichment Methods Suitable for Next-generation Sequencing

Published on: July 28, 2017

11.7K

Area of Science:

  • Plant genomics
  • Molecular evolution
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Plant genome size exhibits extreme variability (2,056-fold range), despite conserved protein-coding gene numbers.
  • Genome size variation is lineage-specific, with a mean 1C value of 2.4 pg.
  • Transposable element content, ranging from ~3% to ~85%, strongly correlates with genome size.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the drivers of extreme plant genome size variation.
  • To understand the role of transposable elements and regulatory mechanisms in genome evolution.
  • To identify specific elements contributing to large genomes in angiosperms.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of whole-genome sequences across diverse plant taxa.
  • Quantification of transposable element fractions, including long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons.
  • Comparative genomics to study genome size evolution in specific plant families.

Main Results:

  • Class 1 LTR retrotransposons are primary contributors to 1C value differences among plants.
  • Genome size expansion is influenced by LTR retrotransposon activity, regulated by epigenetic suppression.
  • Large genomes in Lilium and Fritillaria are linked to LTR retrotransposons, non-LTR retrotransposons, and satellite DNAs, potentially due to failed counter-balancing mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • Transposable element dynamics, especially LTR retrotransposons, are key drivers of plant genome size variation.
  • Epigenetic and genome-purging mechanisms play crucial roles in controlling genome size.
  • Specific lineages, like Liliaceae, show repeated genome size evolution, with multiple elements contributing to exceptionally large genomes.