Jumping genes: Tumor microvesicles reveal detailed genetic information
Monday, February 14, 2011 - 15:30
in Biology & Nature
The same research team that first discovered tumor-associated RNA in tiny membrane-enclosed sacs released into the bloodstream by cancer cells has now found that these microvesicles also contain segments of tumor DNA, including retrotransposons -- also called "jumping genes" -- that copy and insert themselves into other areas of the genome.