Question

Transposable elements make up 44% of the human genome. What is thought to be their function?

Answer 1

Transposable elements are considered to be responsible for vast range of genome diversity and gene silencing.

Explanation:

Transposable elements are short sequences of DNA that have the ability to move from one location to another in the genome. During this process they copy themselves.

The entire process carried out by transposable elements to copy themselves and move from one location to another is called transposition.

Transposition may result in mutation and is potentially a major source of genome diversity and change. If a transposon inserts itself into the coding region of a gene,it interrupts the coding sequence and inactivates the gene expression.

In addition to this, a transposable element may contain transcription or translation termination signal that will block the gene expression downstream of insertion site.