A new genome mapping method is helping Cornell scientists unlock the secrets of transposons—long dismissed as “junk DNA”—according to the Cornell Chronicle.
Using a technique called CUT&Tag, researchers showed these ancient viral elements drive critical functions like immune defense, stem cell formation, and even cancer mutation. Standard tools missed them by ignoring the solid part of DNA samples—where most transposons hide.
The discovery could spark advances in cancer therapy, fertility, and agriculture by revealing how this hidden half of the genome shapes life and evolution.
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