class II transposon

Class II transposons are segments of DNA that move within a genome using a "cut and paste" mechanism. These elements typically encode an enzyme called transposase, which cuts the transposon from its original location and inserts it elsewhere. Class II transposons can range from 1,000 to 40,000 base pairs in length. They are a type of transposon, also known as "jumping genes," which were first discovered in corn by Barbara McClintock. Transposons can sometimes carry genes, such as those for antibiotic resistance, and their movement can occasionally lead to genetic mutations or chromosomal rearrangements that may cause disease.1