Parasites or Not? Transposable Elements in DNA of Fruit Flies May Be Beneficial

Parasites or Not? Transposable Elements in DNA of Fruit Flies May Be Beneficial

Reference- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203091813.htm

Summary- Many living organisms suffer from parasites, which use the hosts' resources for their own purposes. The problem of parasitism occurs at all levels down to the DNA scale. Genomes may contain up to 80 percent “foreign” DNA but details of the mechanisms by which this enters the host genome and how hosts attempt to combat its spread are still the subject of conjecture. Nearly all organisms contain a piece of DNA that really doesn’t belong to them. These "transposable elements," so called because they are capable of moving around within and between genomes. Generally represents a drain on the host’s resources and in certain cases may lead directly to disease.

Critique- Nearly all organisms contains a piece of DNA that really doesn’t belong to them.

Impact- Parasites are horrible they just feed of the host’s for the resources they need. That is the problem of parasitism it occurs at all levels down to the DNA scale.