title: Genetics. Transposons help sculpt a dynamic genome.
abstract: New research is showing that the mobile genetic elements called transposons cause more extensive restructuring of the genome than previously thought. Researchers have known for about 20 years that transposons can expand the genome, resulting in the repetitive DNA sequences sometimes called "junk," but the new work indicates that transposons can also contribute to substantial DNA losses. What's more, these changes can be rapid--at least on an evolutionary scale--and may help organisms adapt to their environments.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Moffat
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D016678:Genome; D018745:Genome, Plant; D007313:Insecta / Q000235:genetics; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D018626:Retroelements; D020079:Terminal Repeat Sequences
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D018626:Retroelements; D004247:DNA