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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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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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Transposons01:24

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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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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

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Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
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Evolutionary dynamics of transposable elements in bdelloid rotifers.

Reuben W Nowell1,2, Christopher G Wilson1,2, Pedro Almeida2,3

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Elife
|February 5, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Transposable elements (TEs) persist in asexual bdelloid rotifers, challenging theories. Their genomes show slow TE evolution and expanded RNAi defenses, suggesting unique adaptation strategies in obligate asexuals.

Keywords:
RNAibdelloid rotifersevolution of sexevolutionary biologygeneticsgenomicstransposable elements

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Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Locations for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach
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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Asexual Reproduction

Background:

  • Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic sequences that can proliferate within genomes.
  • Sexual reproduction is thought to facilitate the spread of TEs in host populations.
  • The dynamics of TEs in obligately asexual organisms remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and dynamics of transposable elements in bdelloid rotifers, a class of invertebrates that reproduce asexually.
  • To test existing theories on TE behavior in the absence of sexual reproduction.
  • To identify potential mechanisms that govern TE content in long-term asexual lineages.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-genome sequencing of eight bdelloid rotifer species.
  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify and quantify transposable elements.
  • Comparative genomics to assess gene family evolution, particularly for RNAi pathway genes.

Main Results:

  • Active transposable elements are present in bdelloid rotifer genomes at frequencies comparable to sexual species.
  • No evidence for TE spread via cryptic recombination or unique DNA repair mechanisms was found.
  • TE content evolution appears to be slow in bdelloids.
  • Significant expansion of gene families involved in RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated TE suppression was observed.

Conclusions:

  • Bdelloid rotifers possess a unique strategy for managing transposable elements despite their obligate asexuality.
  • Expanded RNAi pathways may serve as a crucial defense mechanism against the potentially deleterious effects of active TEs.
  • These findings challenge simple models of TE dynamics and highlight the adaptive potential of asexual lineages.