Occurring in the genomes of most living organisms, transposable elements (TEs) are short DNA sequences that have the ability change their position. By means of various molecular mechanisms—so-called copy-paste or cut-and-paste—they can ‘jump’ to another place within the genome. The genes contained in transposable elements are therefore known as jumping genes. Depending on the position into which they insert in the genome, this can have negative consequences for the host—the organism lending its genome which they inhabit. Host species thus evolved protection mechanisms to restrict the activity of TEs. However, TEs have found ways to circumvent these protection mechanisms.
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Source: Phys.org