title: [Do repetitive DNA sequences have a biological function?].
abstract: By DNA reassociation kinetics it is known that the eucaryotic genome consists of non-repetitive DNA, middle-repetitive DNA and highly repetitive DNA. Whereas the majority of protein-coding genes is located on non-repetitive DNA, repetitive DNA forms a constitutive part of eucaryotic DNA and its amount in most cases equals or even substantially exceeds that of non-repetitive DNA. During the past years a large body of data on repetitive DNA has accumulated and these have prompted speculations ranging from specific roles in the regulation of gene expression to that of a selfish entity with inconsequential functions. The following article summarizes recent findings on structural, transcriptional and evolutionary aspects and, although by no means being proven, some possible biological functions are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005796:Genes; D005815:Genetic Code; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics; D012320:RNA Polymerase III / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D012319:RNA Polymerase II; D012320:RNA Polymerase III
vernacular_title: Haben repetitive DNA-Sequenzen biologische Funktionen?