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Related Concept Videos

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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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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 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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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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Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...
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Transposable Elements and the Evolution of Insects.

Clément Gilbert1, Jean Peccoud2, Richard Cordaux2

  • 1Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France;

Annual Review of Entomology
|September 15, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transposable elements (TEs) are crucial in insect evolution and immunity. These mobile genetic elements can be horizontally transferred between species and play a key role in insect adaptations and antiviral defense.

Keywords:
adaptationagingantiviral immunityevolutionhorizontal transfertransposable elements

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genomics
  • Insect science

Background:

  • Insects are key models for studying transposable elements (TEs) and host interactions.
  • Insect TE landscapes show variability, with phylogenetic relatedness correlating with TE content similarity.
  • Horizontal transfer of TEs between related species may influence TE content.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the variability and evolutionary dynamics of insect transposable elements.
  • To investigate the role of insect traits in shaping TE landscapes.
  • To understand the emerging role of TEs in insect antiviral immunity.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics of sequenced insect genomes.
  • Population genomics analyses.
  • Functional studies on TE-host interactions.

Main Results:

  • Insect TE landscapes are highly variable but correlate with phylogeny, suggesting horizontal transfer.
  • TEs are implicated in insect adaptations, aging, and antiviral immunity.
  • TEs function as essential insect symbionts with context-dependent effects.

Conclusions:

  • Transposable elements are dynamic genetic factors in insects, influencing evolution and immunity.
  • TEs represent essential insect symbionts with significant, albeit context-dependent, host impacts.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the influence of insect traits on TE dynamics.