title: DNA repeat sequences: diversity and versatility of functions.
abstract: Although discovered decades ago, the molecular identification, the diversity and versatility of functions, and the evolutionary origin of repeat DNA sequences (REPs) containing palindromic units in prokaryotes are now bringing attention to a wide range of biological scientists. A brief account of the current state of the repeat DNA sequences is presented here.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA. adhyas@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Sankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adhya
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D055029:Inverted Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: BIME; Palindromic units; REP; Repeat DNA sequence; naRNA