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Related Concept Videos

Transposons01:24

Transposons

64
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...
64
Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

15.8K
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...
15.8K
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

8.0K
While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
8.0K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

7.2K
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
7.2K
Transduction01:16

Transduction

46
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...
46
DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

14.6K
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...
14.6K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Locations for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach
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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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Mobile Genetic Element Flexibility as an Underlying Principle to Bacterial Evolution.

Alexandra J Weisberg1, Jeff H Chang1

  • 1Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA;

Annual Review of Microbiology
|July 12, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) drive bacterial evolution and adaptation. Their unique properties enable trait storage, sharing, and diversification, impacting bacterial populations and ecosystems.

Keywords:
antimicrobial resistanceevolutionmobile genetic elementsmodularityrobustnesssymbiosisvirulence

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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:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are crucial drivers of bacterial evolution.
  • MGEs influence bacterial traits impacting host and ecosystem health.
  • Understanding MGEs is vital for comprehending bacterial adaptation and diversification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize recent findings on bacterial MGEs.
  • To highlight the emergent properties of MGEs in bacterial evolution.
  • To explore how new technologies advance MGE analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a hierarchical and modular systems framework.
  • Scaled analysis from genes to bacterial populations.
  • Synthesized recent research findings on MGEs.

Main Results:

  • MGEs exhibit flexibility, robustness, and genetic capacitance.
  • Bacterial traits are stored, shared, and diversified via MGEs across taxa and time.
  • These properties allow bacteria to maintain function and adapt to environmental changes.

Conclusions:

  • MGEs play a fundamental role in bacterial evolution and adaptation.
  • The emergent properties of MGEs facilitate bacterial resilience and diversification.
  • Advancements in technology offer new avenues for studying MGEs and their impact.