Knocking out nodules
Article Abstract:
It has been established that a transposon named Ac, derived from maize, can be used to disrupt genes in the leguminous plant Lotus japonicus. The transposition approach used in this research makes it easy to identify mutated genes, as they are tagged by the known nucleotide sequence of the transposon. This approach produced a mutant that was not able to form root nodules, and was thus called nodule inception (nin) mutant. It was shown that the genetic defect in the nin mutants is caused by integration of the transposon.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1999
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Policing rogue genes
Article Abstract:
New research indicates that organisms have systems to keep transposons under control. It is suggested that one of the clues that organisms use to detect illicit activity is double-stranded RNA. It is clear that RNA interference is not required for normal life in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans. Furthermore, there is some connection between RNA interference and transposon activity. Genetic analysis of RNA interference will be simple.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1999
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RNA-catalyzed nucleotide synthesis
Article Abstract:
An iterative selection in vitro was performed to isolate from random sequences, ribozymes that synthesize a pyrimidine nucleotide at their 3' terminus, in order to examine the ability of RNA to promote nucleotide synthesis. It was found that RNA can catalyzed this type of reaction, supporting the concept of an RNA world that includes nucleotide synthesis mediated by ribozymes.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1998
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