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The origin of P elements in Drosophila melanogaster
Author(s) -
Engels William R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.950141007
Subject(s) - drosophila melanogaster , melanogaster , transposable element , biology , transposition (logic) , genome , evolutionary biology , genetics , dna transposable elements , mechanism (biology) , mobile genetic elements , drosophila (subgenus) , gene , linguistics , philosophy , epistemology
The P family of transposable genetic elements is thought to be a recent addition to the Drosophila melanogaster genome. New evidence suggests that the elements came from another Drosophila species, possibly carried by parasitic mites. The transposition mechanism of P elements involves DNA gap repair which may have facilitated their rapid spread through D. melanogaster worldwide. These results provide new insight into the process of a transpo‐son's invasion into a new species and the potential risk of extinction such an invasion might entail.