Analysis of the human Alu Ye lineage.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alu elements are short (approximately 300 bp) interspersed elements that amplify in primate genomes through a process termed retroposition. The expansion of these elements has had a significant impact on the structure and function of primate genomes. Approximately 10 % of the mass of the human genome is comprised of Alu elements, making them the most abundant short interspersed element (SINE) in our genome. The majority of Alu amplification occurred early in primate evolution, and the current rate of Alu retroposition is at least 100 fold slower than the peak of amplification that occurred 30-50 million years ago. Alu elements are therefore a rich source of inter- and intra-species primate genomic variation.

Results

A total of 153 Alu elements from the Ye subfamil

SUBMITTER: Salem AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC554112 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature