transposon
noun
trans·po·son tran(t)s-ˈpō-zän 
: a transposable element especially when it contains genetic material controlling functions other than those related to its relocation
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Judith Korb, who studies aging in termites at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, compared transposon activity in two termite species. 
Yao-hua Law, Science | AAAS, 25 Mar. 2021 In fact, Crispr itself appears to have evolved from a self-synthesizing transposon, as NIH researchers Eugene Koonin and Kira Makarova described in 2017. Megan Molteni, Wired, 7 July 2020 Since then, research has shown that transposons played an important role in the evolution of pregnancy. Quanta Magazine, 4 Sep. 2013 Parts of this noncoding portion of the genome are riddled with repetitive DNA sequences, caused by transposable genetic elements, or transposons, that copy and insert themselves throughout the genome. Quanta Magazine, 8 Nov. 2018 Then Travis Thomson arrived in her lab as a postdoc after completing another postdoc in a lab that studied the mobile genetic elements called transposons, many of which resemble viruses. Quanta Magazine, 2 May 2018 Budnik’s experience with Arc led her to look for other transposons and viral elements transported by extracellular vesicles. Quanta Magazine, 2 May 2018 By helping its host cells, Feschotte says, the transposon achieves its selfish ends. Mitch Leslie, Science | AAAS, 21 June 2018 That said, transposons often behave like unwelcome houseguests. Mitch Leslie, Science | AAAS, 21 June 2018 See More
Yao-hua Law, Science | AAAS, 25 Mar. 2021 In fact, Crispr itself appears to have evolved from a self-synthesizing transposon, as NIH researchers Eugene Koonin and Kira Makarova described in 2017. Megan Molteni, Wired, 7 July 2020 Since then, research has shown that transposons played an important role in the evolution of pregnancy. Quanta Magazine, 4 Sep. 2013 Parts of this noncoding portion of the genome are riddled with repetitive DNA sequences, caused by transposable genetic elements, or transposons, that copy and insert themselves throughout the genome. Quanta Magazine, 8 Nov. 2018 Then Travis Thomson arrived in her lab as a postdoc after completing another postdoc in a lab that studied the mobile genetic elements called transposons, many of which resemble viruses. Quanta Magazine, 2 May 2018 Budnik’s experience with Arc led her to look for other transposons and viral elements transported by extracellular vesicles. Quanta Magazine, 2 May 2018 By helping its host cells, Feschotte says, the transposon achieves its selfish ends. Mitch Leslie, Science | AAAS, 21 June 2018 That said, transposons often behave like unwelcome houseguests. Mitch Leslie, Science | AAAS, 21 June 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
transpose + -on entry 2
First Known Use
1974, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
transposon
noun
trans·po·son ˌtran(t)s-ˈpō-ˌzän
: a transposable element especially when it contains genetic material controlling functions other than those related to its relocation