“Ten things you should know about transposable elements” (2018), by Guillaume Bourque et al. Agriculture and Biology research paper. Original abstract below, unchanged. A free PDF is available.

Ten things you should know about transposable elements

Guillaume Bourque, Kathleen H. Burns, Mary A. Gehring et al. · November 19, 2018 · Agriculture and Biology

Abstract

Transposable elements (TEs) are major components of eukaryotic genomes. However, the extent of their impact on genome evolution, function, and disease remain a matter of intense interrogation. The rise of genomics and large-scale functional assays has shed new light on the multi-faceted activities of TEs and implies that they should no longer be marginalized. Here, we introduce the fundamental properties of TEs and their complex interactions with their cellular environment, which are crucial to understanding their impact and manifold consequences for organismal biology. While we draw examples primarily from mammalian systems, the core concepts outlined here are relevant to a broad range of organisms.

Free PDF DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1577-z