Mobilome

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mobilome

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the eukaryotic mobilome dominance?Transposable elements (TEs) are the primary mobile genetic components in eukaryotic genomes
2. What is the prokaryotic mobilome features?Plasmids and integrated bacteriophages (prophages) are the principal mobile elements in prokaryotes
3. Why are mobile genetic elements called "wiggling wonders"?They can jump, copy, and move around, making them wiggly and exciting.
4. How do mobile elements help bacteria get new traits?Plasmids and phages can transfer genes between bacteria, giving them new abilities like antibiotic resistance.

Mobile Genetic Elements (MGEs): DNA sequences capable of moving within or between genomes, influencing genetic diversity and evolution.
Transposable Elements (TEs): Genetic elements that can move from one genomic location to another, often referred to as 'jumping genes'.
Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT): The movement of genetic material between organisms other than by the traditional vertical transmission from parent to offspring.
Mobilomics: The study of the mobilome, utilizing genomic and bioinformatic approaches to analyze mobile genetic elements.