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Mobile DNA: Mechanisms, Utility, and Consequences

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Molecular Life Sciences

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Synopsis

Mobile DNA elements contain sequences that enable them to physically move within or between different DNA molecules in a cell. These elements are ubiquitous in nature and are found throughout each of the three domains of life and can be found in many ectopic DNA molecules, such as viral genomes and plasmids. They can perform a variety of functions for a host organism and mobilize genetic information from one host to another. There are three major strategies that are adopted by these elements to mobilize, which include transposition, conservative site-specific recombination, and target-primed reverse transcription. Mobilization of genetic elements is typically a highly regulated process and can have some important consequences or perform vital functions for organisms.

Introduction

All organisms depend on faithful reproduction of their genetic material for their continued survival. However, in this section we will consider mobile genetic elements, segments of DNA that challenge...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Control and Genetics Section, Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, 21702-1201, USA

    Adam R. Parks

  2. Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, 175A Wing Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Joseph E. Peters

Authors
  1. Adam R. Parks
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  2. Joseph E. Peters
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joseph E. Peters .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Chemistry, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Ellis Bell

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Parks, A.R., Peters, J.E. (2014). Mobile DNA: Mechanisms, Utility, and Consequences. In: Bell, E. (eds) Molecular Life Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6436-5_157-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6436-5_157-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6436-5

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