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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

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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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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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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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Diversity of Protists I01:15

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Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
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Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 10, 2026

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
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Experimental evolution reveals hyperparasitic interactions among transposable elements.

Émilie Robillard1, Arnaud Le Rouzic1, Zheng Zhang1

  • 1Évolution, Génomes, Comportement, Écologie, CNRS, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|December 9, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transposable elements (TEs) spread rapidly but can be outcompeted. Nonautonomous mariner elements parasitize active copies, leading to the extinction of the entire TE family within 100 generations.

Keywords:
Drosophilaexperimental evolutionhyperparasitisminvasion dynamicstransposable elements

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences influencing genome evolution.
  • Understanding TE dynamics, interactions, and accumulation is crucial for genome evolution studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the transposition dynamics of cut-and-paste mariner elements during experimental evolution in Drosophila melanogaster.
  • To analyze the impact of autonomous and nonautonomous mariner copies on TE accumulation and spread.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental evolution of Drosophila melanogaster populations with introduced autonomous and nonautonomous mariner elements.
  • Quantitative PCR was used to track TE accumulation over 100 generations.

Main Results:

  • Active mariner elements showed high invasiveness and transposition rates, supporting the selfish-DNA mechanism.
  • Nonautonomous mariner copies acted as hyperparasites, utilizing the transposition machinery of active elements.
  • The presence of parasitic nonautonomous copies led to the failure of active copies to amplify, causing extinction of the mariner family within 100 generations.

Conclusions:

  • Transposition-competitive variants can significantly disrupt TE dynamics.
  • The study provides insights into the diverse evolutionary histories of TEs observed in genomes.
  • TE family evolution is influenced by the interplay between autonomous and nonautonomous elements.