Autonomous transposable elements, generally considered as junk and selfish, encode
transposition proteins that can bind, copy, break, join or degrade nucleic acids as well as …

Supernumerary B chromosomes (Bs) are extra karyotype units in addition to A
chromosomes, and are found in some fungi and thousands of animals and plant species. Bs …

Whole genome sequencing has provided a massive amount of information about the origin,
diversity and genomic impact of repetitive DNA sequences (repDNA). Among the many …

During evolution, several types of sequences pass through genomes. Along with mutations
and internal genetic tinkering, they are a useful source of genetic variability for adaptation …

Background Terminal repeat retrotransposons in miniature (TRIMs) are a unique group of
small long terminal repeat retrotransposons that are difficult to identify. Thus far, only a few …

Background Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are a class of mobile genetic
element capable of autonomous transposition via an RNA intermediate. Their large size and …

Activation of transposable elements in species' genomes represents an important
mechanism of new mutation and of potential rapid change in genome size. Thus, it is …

The biosynthesis of female moth sex pheromone blends is controlled by a number of
different enzymes, many of which are encoded by members of multigene families. One such …

Background A large proportion of species-specific exons are alternatively spliced. In
primates, Alu elements play a crucial role in the process of exon creation but many new …

A fascinating evolutionary facet of retroposition is its ability to generate a dynamic reservoir
of sequences for the formation of new genes within genomes. Retroelement genes, such as …