Parasites in the genome - a molecular parasite could play an important role in human evolution
Saturday, January 24, 2009 - 14:07
in Biology & Nature
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tuebingen, Germany, determined the structure of a protein (L1ORF1p), which is encoded by a parasitic genetic element and which is responsible for its mobility. The so-called LINE-1 retrotransposon is a mobile genetic element that can multiply and insert itself into chromosomal DNA at many different locations. This disturbs the genetic code at the site of integration, which can have serious consequences for the organism...