You may know that DNA is what makes you…YOU. The “genes” contained within DNA are like a set of instructions, which tell your cells what to be. There is still a lot to understand about DNA. A portion of our DNA (about 40%) is made up of “jumping genes”, which are called transposable elements. They are called “jumping genes” because they can copy themselves and “jump” from one place in a DNA line (called a sequence) into another. Sometimes, this activity can be harmful. Transposable elements have been connected to many disorders, most famously breast cancer.
I studied a retrotransposon called mys (pronounced m-i-s-s), which is a kind of transposable element found in rodents. My research aimed to find where mys began, by searching the rodents’ DNA for evidence of mys. These results could help us understand how and why mys “jumps” into other DNA sequences. It could also lead to a better understanding of disorders caused by transposable elements.
I studied a retrotransposon called mys (pronounced m-i-s-s), which is a kind of transposable element found in rodents. My research aimed to find where mys began, by searching the rodents’ DNA for evidence of mys. These results could help us understand how and why mys “jumps” into other DNA sequences. It could also lead to a better understanding of disorders caused by transposable elements.
Author: Ashlee Smith
Ashlee Smith graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science from Eastern Michigan University where she studied molecular genetics. Currently, she is completing her Ph.D. at The Ohio State University in the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology department. Outside of the lab, Ashlee enjoys cooking, doing outdoor activities, such as kayaking and snowboarding, reading and hanging out with friends. She has a pet fish named Pippen and a rabbit named Spanky, but wishes she had an Elephant because, who wouldn’t?
Ashlee Smith graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science from Eastern Michigan University where she studied molecular genetics. Currently, she is completing her Ph.D. at The Ohio State University in the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology department. Outside of the lab, Ashlee enjoys cooking, doing outdoor activities, such as kayaking and snowboarding, reading and hanging out with friends. She has a pet fish named Pippen and a rabbit named Spanky, but wishes she had an Elephant because, who wouldn’t?