Tight DNA packaging protects against 'jumping genes,' potential cellular destruction
Thursday, September 1, 2016 - 14:31
in Biology & Nature
Scientists discovered that the major developmental function of heterochromatin -- a form of tight DNA packaging found in chromosomes -- is likely the suppression of virus-like DNA elements known as transposons or 'jumping genes,' which can otherwise copy and paste themselves throughout the genome, potentially destroying important genes, and causing cancers and other diseases.