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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 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.
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Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

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Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
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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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Exon Recombination02:32

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The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
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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: Feb 19, 2026

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
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Coevolution between transposable elements and recombination.

Tyler V Kent1, Jasmina Uzunović1, Stephen I Wright2

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3B2.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|November 8, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transposable elements (TEs) are linked to genome structure, often correlating negatively with meiotic recombination. This review explores how TEs and recombination influence each other, impacting genome evolution.

Keywords:
ectopic recombinationheterochromatinrecombination hotspotstransposable elements

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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • A strong negative correlation exists between transposable elements (TEs) and meiotic recombination rates across eukaryotic genomes.
  • The precise mechanisms driving this association and the causal relationship between TEs and recombination remain unclear.
  • Understanding this interaction is crucial for deciphering genome structure evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing evidence on the relationship between transposable elements and recombination rates.
  • To discuss the evolutionary forces shaping these interactions.
  • To explore the potential feedback loops and implications for genome evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating transposable elements and recombination.
  • Analysis of evidence for negative and positive correlations across different element types.
  • Discussion of theoretical models and empirical observations.

Main Results:

  • Overall TE densities typically show a negative correlation with recombination rates, but this varies by element type and can be reversed.
  • Selection against ectopic recombination and gene disruption may drive TE accumulation in low-recombination regions.
  • Evidence suggests TE regulation can also influence local recombination rates, and TE polymorphism may drive within-species variation.

Conclusions:

  • The interplay between transposable elements and recombination is complex, involving reciprocal influences.
  • TE accumulation can contribute to recombination suppression, potentially creating positive feedback loops.
  • Further research into the coevolution of TEs and recombination is vital for understanding genome evolution and structure.