Mobile genetic elements

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mobile genetic elements in the Cell (left) and in what ways they can be acquired (right).

Mobile genetic elements (MGE) are a type of DNA that can move around within the genome. They include:

• Transposons
  • Retrotransposons
  • DNA transposons
  • Insertion sequences
• Plasmids
• Bacteriophage elements, like Mu which integrates randomly into the genome
• Group II introns

The total of all mobile genetic elements in a genome may be referred to as the mobilome.

[edit] References

• Miller, W.J. and Capy, P. eds. 2004. Mobile genetic elements : protocols and genomic applications. Humana Press. ISBN 1-58829-007-7
• Shapiro, J.A. ed 1983. Mobile genetic elements. Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-638680-3