Author

Erin Radloff

Date Approved

2006

Degree Type

Open Access Senior Honors Thesis

Department or School

Biology

First Advisor

David Kass

Second Advisor

James Vandenbosch

Abstract

Nearly half of the human genome consists of transposable element (TE) DNA sequences. Most of these sequences were derived from the process of retrotransposition. This term refers to a gene being transcribed into RNA, converted back to DNA and the copy integrated elsewhere in the genome. Short interspersed DNA elements (SINEs) from various rodent species were isolated, using PCR, with the intent of being incorporated into a plasmid construct and analyzed for retrotransposition efficiency. SINE copy numbers vary among rodents; therefore, efficiency can be determined by contrasting copy numbers in respective genomes in different rodents. In future studies, a novel cell culture assay approach will be used to determine the important features and efficiency for retrotransposition.

Included in

Biology Commons

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