Mice with overactive LINE-1 retrotransposons in their brains exhibit movement difficulties, suggesting the genetic elements may play a role in ataxia in humans. 

Genetic studies have made it clear that eukaryotic horizontal gene transfer can and does happen. Exactly how, though, remains speculative.

Horizontally transferred genes play significant roles in eukaryotic genomes

DNA passed to and from all kinds of organisms, even across kingdoms, has helped shape the tree of life, to a large and undisputed degree in microbes and also unexpectedly in multicellular fungi, plants, and animals.

Researchers identify a sensor that sets off inflammation in the absence of infection when it detects RNA from the mobile genetic elements.

Activation of retrotransposons in the animals’ cancerous cells sets off an innate immune response that triggers cell death.

A new study suggests that DNA synthesized in the cell cytoplasm drives retinal cell death in an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.

While studying a degenerative eye disease, researchers find the first evidence that cells produce endogenous DNA in the cytoplasm. Drugs that block this activity are linked with reduced risk of atrophic age-related macular degeneration.

Mice who get less attention from their mothers have more copies of a common retrotransposon in the genomes of their hippocampal neurons.

No two neurons are alike. What does that mean for brain function?

Recent advances in single-cell omics and other techniques are revealing variation at genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and posttranscriptomic levels.

Transfer RNA fragments prevent jumping genes from hopping around in the mouse embryo, when histone methylation can’t do the job.

Researchers examine the role of long interspersed element-1 retrotransposition in neuronal mosaicism.

From sequencing bacteriophages to synthesizing bacterial genomes to defining a minimal genome

Panoramix, a newly identified transcription repressor, takes the bounce out of jumping genes.

These mobile genetic elements can wreak havoc on the genome. Researchers are now trying to understand how such activity contributes to the aging process.

Researchers find evidence that transposable elements, also known as jumping genes, may contribute to the development of the psychiatric disorder.

Scientists show that horizontal transfer of a particular DNA sequence among a diverse range of vertebrates is more widespread than previously believed.

Retrotransposons contribute to genetic variability in human brain cells.