BITS of DNA regarded as genetic parasites might play a key role in our development by kickstarting gene expression in embryos.
Much of our genome consists of endless copies of various kinds of “jumping genes”, or transposons. Often the remnants of ancient viruses, transposons can make copies of their DNA and then paste these randomly into the genome.
The DNA of a complete transposon consists of genes for the enzymes that do the cutting and pasting plus a “controlling element”, a kind of genetic switch that activates these genes. Often, however, only the DNA of the controlling element is copied.…
