Mobile genetic elements

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 (also called transposable elements)
  • 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.

Barbara McClintock was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for her discovery of mobile genetic elements".

See also

• Horizontal gene transfer
• Classification of mobile genetic elements

References

• Miller, W. J.; 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 .