Most DNA particles are said to be
'characterised' -that is, they code
for a specific protein or possess regulatory properties. However, certain uncharacterised material in the
form of short DNA sequences are
also carried to the new organism in
the course of the transfer of DNA
from one organism to another.
The earlier belief that only long
DNA sequences are problematic has
been disproved by a gene which
codes for a small molecule called
microcin C7, that has the ability to
inhibit protein synthesis. The existence of small genes, thus, cautions
against the transfer of uncharacterised DNA (The Gene Exchange,
Vo16, Nos 2 and 3).
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