The DNA transposon Minos as a tool for transgenesis and functional genomic analysis in vertebrates and invertebrates

Anastasios Pavlopoulos¹^,2, Stefan Oehler¹, Maria G Kapetanaki¹^,3 and Charalambos Savakis¹^,4

¹Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Vassilika Vouton, PO Box 1385, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece

²Laboratory for Development and Evolution, University Museum of Zoology, Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK

³Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, and Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Hillman Cancer Center, Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia 15213, USA

⁴Medical School, University of Crete, Voutes, PO Box 2208, Heraklion 71003, Crete, Greece

author email corresponding author email

Genome Biology 2007, 8(Suppl 1):S2doi:10.1186/gb-2007-8-s1-s2


Published:	31 October 2007

Abstract

Transposons are powerful tools for conducting genetic manipulation and functional studies in organisms that are of scientific, economic, or medical interest. Minos, a member of the Tc1/mariner family of DNA transposons, exhibits a low insertional bias and transposes with high frequency in vertebrates and invertebrates. Its use as a tool for transgenesis and genome analysis of rather different animal species is described.