Question

Barbara McClintock described 'jumping genes' in maize, these mobile segments of DNA can insert themselves into

• A. Virtually any part of any DNA molecule
• B. Start and stop signals only
• C. Only DNA molecules where there are complementary base pairs with unfilled active sites
• D. Plasmid molecules only

Answer 1

The correct option is A Virtually any part of any DNA molecule

A transposable element is a DNA sequence that can change its position within the genome, sometimes creating or reversing mutations and altering the cell's genome size. Transposition often results in duplication of the transposable elements. Barbara McClintock's discovery of these jumping genes earned her a Nobel prize in 1983. They are generally considered non-coding DNA although it has been shown that TEs are important in genome function and found that genes could not only move, but they could also be turned on or off dut to certain environmental conditions or during different stages of cell development.