Original title: Ten things you should know about transposable elements
Transposable elements, or TEs, are DNA sequences found in eukaryotic genomes—the genomes of organisms whose cells have a nucleus. They interact with the cells that contain them, and those interactions may affect how genomes evolve and function. Researchers are using genome-wide studies and large functional tests to learn more about these effects. This review introduces basic TE properties and explains why their consequences for organisms deserve attention.
Imagine a family keeping old notes mixed in with its current papers. Some notes may be copied or moved, and their presence can affect how the family finds or uses other information. In this paper, the notes stand for transposable elements, while the family’s changing habits stand for how these DNA sequences interact with cells and may affect an organism.
These DNA sequences are part of the genomes of many organisms, including mammals. Understanding how they interact with cells helps researchers investigate their possible roles in genome evolution, biological function, and disease.
The abstract does not report specific findings about how transposable elements cause disease or affect genome evolution and function. It says these impacts remain under investigation, and the examples are primarily from mammals, even though the core concepts are intended to apply more broadly.
Ask anything about this paper. Answers come from its abstract, and say so when the abstract doesn't cover your question.
Ten things you should know about transposable elements — Guillaume Bourque, Kathleen H. Burns, Mary A. Gehring et al. — Genome biology — doi:10.1186/s13059-018-1577-z
Abstract licence: CC BY
Explanation generated by Synthesis from the abstract — it is not the original paper.