Consider the map shown below of a portion of a prokaryotic genome. How might the elements indicated affect the stability and structure of the genome? Assume that IS2 encodes for a transposase that catalyzes conservative transposition

Re-draw the genome map to illustrate your prediction if necessary.

| IS2 |__gene1 gene2 gene3 | IS2 | geneA geneB geneC | IS2 | geneD | IS2 | geneX

What will be an ideal response?


Answer: Answers should indicate that having multiple IS2 elements in the genome could result in the deletion and/or rearrangement of gene order by transposition events. Composite transposons can form if the genes between to insertion sequences move, or transpose, with the insertion sequences. For instance, geneD could be removed from this part of the genome and inserted elsewhere. OR geneABCD could all move together to another part of the genome through transposition. Similarly gene123 could move together, or even gene123 and geneABCD (but not geneX). If conservative transposition is the only possibility then the genes will move from one spot to another in the genome, but if replicative transposition occurred the genes could be copied to another part of the genome.

Biology & Microbiology

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Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

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Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

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