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

18.4K
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...
18.4K
DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

16.5K
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...
16.5K
LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

19.1K
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.
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
19.1K
Transposons01:24

Transposons

847
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...
847
Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

12.9K
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...
12.9K
Diversity of Protists I01:15

Diversity of Protists I

684
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...
684

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Transposable elements as catalysts of evolutionary innovation.

Nature reviews. Genetics·2026
Same author

Multiomic analysis of ART-interruption cohorts identifies cell-extrinsic and -intrinsic mechanisms driving lymphocyte-mediated control of HIV rebound.

Immunity·2026
Same author

Endogenous retroviral elements LTR8B and MER65 rewire PSG9 regulation to control trophoblast syncytialization and pre-eclampsia risk.

Genome biology·2026
Same author

EMBO Press co-evolves with molecular ecology and evolutionary biology.

The EMBO journal·2026
Same author

Temperature and genetic background drive mobilization of diverse transposable elements in a global human fungal pathogen.

PLoS genetics·2026
Same author

Pervasive <i>cis</i>-regulatory co-option of a transposable element family reinforces cell identity across the mouse immune system.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same journal

Genomic Imprinting: Common Threads Uniting Diverse Biological Systems.

Annual review of genetics·2026
Same journal

Properties and Prospects of B Chromosomes.

Annual review of genetics·2026
Same journal

Lessons From Yeast: Mechanisms of Telomere Length Regulation.

Annual review of genetics·2026
Same journal

Mechanisms and Evolutionary Advantages of Unlimited Reproductive Lifespans in Naked Mole-Rat Queens.

Annual review of genetics·2026
Same journal

Impact of Small RNA Sponges on Regulatory RNA Networks in Bacteria.

Annual review of genetics·2025
Same journal

Context Specificity of MAP3K DLK Signaling in the Nervous System: Insights from Genetics and Genomics.

Annual review of genetics·2025
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 8, 2025

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

2.7K

A Field Guide to Eukaryotic Transposable Elements.

Jonathan N Wells1, Cédric Feschotte1

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850; email: jnw72@cornell.edu, cf458@cornell.edu.

Annual Review of Genetics
|September 21, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences that shape eukaryotic genomes. Understanding their diversity and behavior is key to comprehending genome evolution and species diversity.

Keywords:
genome evolutionretrotransposonstransposable element originstransposition mechanismstransposons

More Related Videos

RNA Next-Generation Sequencing and a Bioinformatics Pipeline to Identify Expressed LINE-1s at the Locus-Specific Level
11:04

RNA Next-Generation Sequencing and a Bioinformatics Pipeline to Identify Expressed LINE-1s at the Locus-Specific Level

Published on: May 19, 2019

10.3K
Creation of a Dense Transposon Insertion Library Using Bacterial Conjugation in Enterobacterial Strains Such As Escherichia Coli or Shigella flexneri
11:36

Creation of a Dense Transposon Insertion Library Using Bacterial Conjugation in Enterobacterial Strains Such As Escherichia Coli or Shigella flexneri

Published on: September 23, 2017

16.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 8, 2025

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

2.7K
RNA Next-Generation Sequencing and a Bioinformatics Pipeline to Identify Expressed LINE-1s at the Locus-Specific Level
11:04

RNA Next-Generation Sequencing and a Bioinformatics Pipeline to Identify Expressed LINE-1s at the Locus-Specific Level

Published on: May 19, 2019

10.3K
Creation of a Dense Transposon Insertion Library Using Bacterial Conjugation in Enterobacterial Strains Such As Escherichia Coli or Shigella flexneri
11:36

Creation of a Dense Transposon Insertion Library Using Bacterial Conjugation in Enterobacterial Strains Such As Escherichia Coli or Shigella flexneri

Published on: September 23, 2017

16.5K

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences comprising a significant portion of eukaryotic genomes.
  • TEs are a major driver of genetic variation and evolutionary novelty.
  • Their presence and activity vary dramatically across eukaryotic species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the defining features, evolutionary origins, and relationships of major eukaryotic TE groups.
  • To explore how TE biology influences their genomic propagation and distribution.
  • To discuss the impact of host factors on TE activity and evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of eukaryotic transposable elements.
  • Analysis of TE invasion strategies and genomic distribution.
  • Examination of environmental and genetic factors modulating TE activity.

Main Results:

  • Detailed overview of major eukaryotic TE groups and their characteristics.
  • Insights into the evolutionary pathways and interrelationships of TEs.
  • Explanation of mechanisms governing TE propagation and genomic impact.

Conclusions:

  • TEs significantly contribute to genome structure and evolution.
  • Cataloging TE diversity and understanding individual element behavior is crucial.
  • Further research on TEs will enhance comprehension of genome biology and species evolution.