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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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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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DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

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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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LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

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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.
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
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Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

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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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Transduction01:16

Transduction

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Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome...
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Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
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The important contribution of transposable elements to phenotypic variation and evolution.

Nathan S Catlin1, Emily B Josephs1

  • 1Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.

Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|December 9, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transposable elements (TEs) drive genomic variation in plants. New methods quantify TE polymorphism, revealing their impact on phenotypes and the evolutionary forces shaping their dynamics.

Keywords:
Selection on transposable elementsTransposable element (TE)Transposable element frequency biasTransposable elements effect on phenoytpe

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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
  • Plant Science

Background:

  • Transposable elements (TEs) are major drivers of genomic variation in plants.
  • Accurate identification of TE polymorphism in population genomic data has been challenging, hindering evolutionary studies.
  • Recent advancements enable quantitative analysis of TE polymorphisms in population datasets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the insertional biases shaping TE distribution in plant genomes.
  • To examine the mechanisms by which TEs influence plant phenotypes.
  • To evaluate the evidence for selection acting on TE polymorphisms.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing advanced population genomic approaches to quantify TE polymorphisms.
  • Analyzing insertional biases to understand TE genome-wide distribution.
  • Investigating TE-phenotype associations.
  • Synthesizing current evidence for selection on TE variants.

Main Results:

  • TEs contribute significantly to intraspecific phenotypic variation in plants.
  • Insertional biases dictate the location, timing, and frequency of TE insertions.
  • TEs possess diverse mechanisms for affecting organismal phenotype.
  • Evidence suggests selection plays a role in shaping TE polymorphism dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • Transposable elements are crucial, yet often overlooked, contributors to plant phenotypic diversity.
  • Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of TE polymorphism is vital for evolutionary biology.
  • New methodologies are improving our ability to study TE evolution and impact.