Practice question

Comprehensive genome analyses reveal transposable elements populate nearly all examined organisms from bacteria to mammals, constituting large fractions of repetitive DNA. Notable exception is Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite whose extremely AT-rich 23 Mb genome lacks active Class I or Class II transposons, perhaps due to reductive evolution, efficient elimination mechanisms, or reliance on variant gene families var and rifin diversified via recombination rather than transposition. This absence makes falciparum unique model for studying genome compaction and alternative mechanisms generating antigenic variation. This principle illustrates essential molecular mechanisms governing replication fidelity and mutation fixation relevant for exam interpretation.