jumping gene

American  

noun

Informal.

1. transposon.

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jumping gene British  

noun

1. a fragment of nucleic acid, such as a plasmid or a transposon, that can become incorporated into the DNA of a cell

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jumping gene Scientific  

/ jŭm′pĭng /

1. See transposon

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Example Sentences

Some are nicknamed jumping genes because they literally jump around, copying and pasting themselves into different parts of our genome just as if they were still viral invaders.

From Salon

Transposons, also known as "jumping genes," are DNA sequences that can move around in genomes.

From Science Daily

So-called jumping genes use the same enzymes to move their genetic sequences within their genome, but it wasn’t clear what role the generated DNA strands play in the infected cells.

From Science Magazine

Further, most of these repeats consist of retrotransposons, also called "jumping genes" or "mobile elements," which can move around and insert themselves repeatedly and randomly in human code.

From Science Daily

These duplicated resistance genes are often linked to "jumping genes" called transposons that can move from strain to strain.

From Science Daily