MOBILE GENETIC ELEMENTS

A collection of flashcards covering the key terms and concepts from mobile genetic elements in genetics.

Transposons

Discrete DNA sequences in the genome that transport to other locations within the genome, often referred to as 'jumping genes'.

Replicative Transposition

A type of transposition that involves 'copy and paste', resulting in more elements while leaving the donor DNA unaltered.

Non-replicative Transposition

A type of transposition that involves 'cut and paste', where the element moves as a physical entity from one site to another.

Transposase

An enzyme that recognizes inverted repeats, excises the sequence, and transports it to a new location in the genome.

Insertion Sequence (IS)

A basic type of transposon found in bacteria, which includes the transposase gene and inverted repeats.

Composite Transposons

Transposons that include one or more insertion sequences and can carry additional genes.

Retroviruses

Infectious viruses whose genomes are RNA and can convert RNA to DNA inside a host cell.

Reverse Transcriptase

An enzyme that converts single-stranded RNA to double-stranded DNA.

Integrase

An enzyme that inserts the DNA copy of viral RNA into the host genome.

Retrotransposons

Genetic elements that can amplify themselves using an RNA intermediate, related to retroviruses.

Gene Cassette

A set of genes located near each other that perform similar functions.

Ribonuclease H

An enzyme that degrades RNA during the reverse transcription process.

Target Repeat/Direct Repeat

Sequences that are replicated during transposition and are part of the original genome sequence.

Crossover Structure

A structural formation during transposition where target sequences attach to transposons.