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ABSTRACT: Background
The revolutionary concept of "jumping genes" was conceived by McClintock in the late 1940s while studying the Activator/Dissociation (Ac/Ds) system in maize. Transposable elements (TEs) represent the most abundant component of many eukaryotic genomes. Mobile elements are a driving force of eukaryotic genome evolution. McClintock's Ac, the autonomous element of the Ac/Ds system, together with hobo from Drosophila and Tam3 from snapdragon define an ancient and diverse DNA transposon superfamily named hAT. Other members of the hAT superfamily include the insect element Hermes and Tol2 from medaka. In recent years, genetic tools derived from the 'cut' and 'paste' Tol2 DNA transposon have been widely used for genomic manipulation in zebrafish, mammals and in cells in vitro.
SUBMITTER: Ni J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4818426 | biostudies-literature | 2016
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature