A composite transposon is similar in function to simple transposon

Simple transposon

A simple transposon is an insertion sequence that contains multiple protein-coding genes between the short, inverted, repeated sequences that flank its gene coding region....

s and Insertion Sequence (IS) elements

Insertion sequence

An insertion sequence is a short DNA sequence that acts as a simple transposable element...

 in that it has protein coding DNA

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...

 segments flanked by inverted, repeated sequences that can be recognized by transposase enzymes. A composite transposon

Transposon

Transposable elements are sequences of DNA that can move or transpose themselves to new positions within the genome of a single cell. The mechanism of transposition can be either "copy and paste" or "cut and paste". Transposition can create phenotypically significant mutations and alter the cell's...

, however, is flanked by two separate IS elements which may or may not be exact replicas. Instead of each IS element moving separately, the entire length of DNA spanning from one IS element to the other is transposed as one complete unit. Composite transposons will also often carry one or more genes conferring antibiotic resistance.

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See also

Tn10

Tn10

Tn 10 is a transposable element, which is a sequence of DNA that is capable of mediating its own movement through the DNA of host organisms. This fragment of DNA can move from position to position on the chromosome or plasmid by cut-and-paste transposition...

Composite SINE transposons in the Bovine genome