PENELOPE-LIKE RETROTRANSPOSONS IN THE GENOME OF ASIAN BLOOD FLUKE SCHISTOSOMA JAPONICUM (TREMATODA: SCHISTOSOMATIDAE).

Mobile genetic elements (in particular, retrotransposons) constitute a considerable part of eukaryotic genomes. These elements are one of the main sources of variability and instability. Although mobile genetic elements had been discovered more than 60 years ago, certain classes of these elements, such as Penelope-like elements (PLE) remain insufficiently understood.