The purple spots on the colorless background of corn kernels observed by Barbara McClintock were the result of the transposition of the Ds elements out of the color gene.
<h3>What are the genetic elements found in corn?</h3>
A transposable element is removed from one spot in the DNA and inserted into a different site in the DNA during the process of genetic transposition, which allows genes to shift their location on chromosomes.
The first recognized genetic instability was caused by genetic transposition.
The size of the tissue patch displaying the reversion phenotype increases as a reversion event happens earlier in the kernel development.
Barbara McClintock saw purple dots on maize kernels with an otherwise colorless background.
These spots were caused by the Ds components of the color gene being transposed.
The wild-type (purple) phenotype manifests itself in cells where Ds from the color gene "C" sequence has been lost.
Hence, Barbara McClintock discovered purple patches on the colorless backdrop of maize kernels due to the transposition of the Ds elements out of the color gene.
