What is the Difference Between Composite and Non Composite Transposons?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Composite and non-composite transposons are two types of prokaryotic transposons, which are DNA sequences that can move within the bacterial genome, causing changes in the genetic information. The main differences between composite and non-composite transposons are:
- Gene Clustering: Composite transposons contain genes in clusters, while non-composite transposons contain separate genes.
- Flanking: Composite transposons are composed of two inverted repeats (IR) elements, also known as insertion sequences (IS), that flank one or more genes. Non-composite transposons, on the other hand, have both transposition and non-transposition genes clustered and flanked by terminal IR sequences.
Both types of transposons have genes coding for antibiotic resistance and catabolic enzymes. They share many structural, functional, and genetic features associated with transposition, including the generation of short directly repeated duplications of a target sequence. However, the key difference lies in the gene organization and flanking structures, with composite transposons having clusters of genes and non-composite transposons having individual genes flanked by terminal IR sequences.
Comparative Table: Composite vs Non Composite Transposons
Here is a table outlining the differences between composite and non-composite transposons:
Feature | Composite Transposons | Non-composite Transposons |
---|---|---|
Definition | Transposons containing two flanking insertion sequences (IS). | Transposons without flanking IS elements. |
Gene Clustering | Genes are in clusters. | Genes are separate and individually flanked by IR sequences. |
Gene Functions | Often code for antibiotic resistance and catabolic genes. | May code for virulence, catabolic enzymes, and other functions. |
Flanking Sequences | Flanked by two IS elements. | Flanked by terminal IR sequences. |
Terminal Inverted Repeats | Contain two inverted repeats. | Lack terminal IS elements. |
Examples | Tn10 is a composite transposon. | Tn3 and Tn21 are non-composite transposons. |
Both composite and non-composite transposons are types of transposable genetic elements that move within the genome of an organism, causing changes in its sequence and genetic information.
- Composite Transposons vs IS Elements
- Transposon vs Retrotransposon
- DNA Transposons vs Retrotransposons
- Plasmid vs Transposon
- LTR vs Non-LTR Retrotransposons
- Bacterial Transposases vs Retroviral Integrases
- Recombinant vs Nonrecombinant
- Cisgenesis vs Transgenesis
- Class I vs Class II Transposable Elements
- Viral vs Nonviral Vectors
- Coding vs Noncoding DNA
- Homologous Recombination vs Non-homologous Recombination
- Chimeric vs Transgenic Organisms
- Replicative Transposition vs Cut vs Paste Transposition
- Complementation vs Recombination
- Transfection vs Transduction
- Reciprocal vs Nonreciprocal Translocation
- Transformation vs Transfection
- Replication vs Transcription