Role of transposable elements in age-related genomic instability

Abstract

Genetic instability is associated with aging in many species. One of the initiating factors for genetic instability is the movement of transposable elements (TEs), which occur in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The hypothesis that TEs could be involved in the aging process is discussed and the correlation between aging and activity of TEs is analysed in a variety of biological systems.