transposon

Noun

transposon (plural transposons)

1. A segment of DNA that can move to a different position within a genome, or to the genome of another species.
   • Transposon tagging is a powerful technique to identify and clone genes. The successful application of transposon tagging requires previous identification and cloning of a transposon in the species under consideration.2002, Ahmet Ipek, Introduction of an Ac/Ds Based Two-element Transposon Tagging System and Trans-activation of Ds in Carrot (Daucus Carota L.), University of Wisconsin–Madison, page 44
   • An alternative approach to the use of retroviruses was to use a DNA transposon to integrate DNA into zebrafish chromosomes.2003, Karl J. Clark, The Development of Sleeping Beauty Gene-trap Transposons for Insertional Mutagenesis of Vertebrates, University of Minnesota, page 7

   Synonyms:

   jumping gene, transposable element, TE