Final answer:
Transposons, also known as 'jumping genes,' can jump to different locations in the genome using various mechanisms like cut-and-paste or replicative transposition, contributing significantly to genetic diversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transposable sequences, commonly known as transposons or "jumping genes," are unique components of DNA that have the distinctive ability to jump to different locations in the genome. These elements contain inverted repeat sequences at their ends and typically encode the enzyme transposase, which facilitates their movement through a process called transposition. Discovered by Barbara McClintock, transposons contribute to genetic diversity and can be found across various organisms. The two main classes of transposons are Class I (Retrotransposons) and Class II (DNA Transposons), each moving within the genome through different mechanisms.
Class I transposons move by transcribing RNA at one location, followed by reverse transcription and integration of the cDNA at another genomic location. Retrotransposons may originate from or give rise to retroviruses. Class II transposons, on the other hand, may utilize a cut-and-paste method, where the transposon is excised from one location and integrated into another, or a replicative method, which leaves the original transposon in place while a new copy is inserted elsewhere.