Question

Do transposons code for proteins?

explanation: Do all transposons code for proteins like our DNA does? Does it come from outside sources only? I know there are retrotransposons and like LINEs and SINEs and I assume they are from outside sources? or is transposon an umbrella term...?

*: I know only supposed to ask one question, I really am, I just need a better explanation of what a transposon/retrotransoson is in second year biology terms. Thank you for helping me understand better.

Answer 1

Yes, transposons does code for proteins.

All the complete or "autonomous" class 2 TEs encodes for the protein transposase, which they require for the insertion and excision processes.Some of these TEs are also involved in encoding other proteins.

Note:DNA transposons never use RNA always move on by themselves using the process of inserting or excising themselves from the genome by what we called cut and paste" mechanism.

Transposable elements are divided into two classes.

Class 1 is called Retrotransposons.

Class 2 is called Transposons

Hence, both of them come under the same umbrella called Transposable Elements.

Retrotransposons differ from transposons in respect to the process of replication.

Retrotransposons

They are further divided into two sub classes namely LTR retrotransposons and Non LTR retrotransposons.

Non-LTR retrotransposons is divided into two sub-types called, long interspersed elements (LINEs) and the short interspersed elements (SINEs).