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Transposable Elements in Prokaryotes quiz

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  • What are the two types of transposable elements found in prokaryotic cells?
    The two types are insertion sequences and transposons.
  • What enzyme is required for the movement of transposable elements?
    Transposase is the enzyme required for movement of transposable elements.
  • What structural features characterize an insertion sequence?
    Insertion sequences have inverted repeat sequences at each end and a transposase gene encoded between these repeats.
  • Where is the transposase gene located in an insertion sequence?
    The transposase gene is located between the inverted repeats in an insertion sequence.
  • How do composite transposons differ from simple transposons in terms of transposase encoding?
    Composite transposons do not encode transposase themselves; instead, their flanking insertion sequences encode it, while simple transposons encode transposase within their own genes.
  • What flanks composite transposons?
    Composite transposons are flanked by insertion sequences.
  • What flanks simple transposons?
    Simple transposons are flanked by inverted repeats.
  • How are simple transposons similar to insertion sequences?
    Both are flanked by inverted repeats and encode transposase, but simple transposons are generally longer.
  • What role do transposons play in bacterial drug resistance?
    Transposons facilitate the transfer of resistance genes between bacteria, contributing to the emergence of 'superbugs'.
  • What are the two mechanisms by which transposons move within the genome?
    Transposons move via replicative transposition (copy and paste) and conservative transposition (cut and paste).
  • What happens during replicative transposition?
    The transposon is copied, and the new copy moves to a new location while the original remains, increasing the number of copies.
  • What happens during conservative transposition?
    The transposon is cut from its original location and moved to a new location, keeping the number of copies the same.
  • How does the copy and paste method affect the number of transposon copies in the genome?
    It increases the number of transposon copies because the original stays and a new copy is inserted elsewhere.
  • How does the cut and paste method affect the number of transposon copies in the genome?
    The number of transposon copies remains the same; only the location changes.
  • Why are inverted repeats important in transposable elements?
    Inverted repeats are required for the transposable element to be able to jump within the genome.