ALU ELEMENTS AS AN AID IN DECIPHERING GENOME REARRANGEMENTS

Genomic rearrangements result in genomic duplications that lead to the generation of more complex genomes. Some attempts have been made to t race duplication histories of different loci using Alu elements becaus e of their large population in primate genomes (Chen et al., 1989; Mnu kova-Fajdelova et al., 1994). In this short report, using the human gr owth hormone locus as an example, we demonstrate the usefulness of Alu repetitive elements in computer sequence analyses when tracing duplic ation histories. Information on subfamily classification, direction, a rrangements, Poly(A) tails and direct repeats can aid our understandin g of genome rearrangements. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.