This ‘junk’ gene may be important in embryo development
Mice — and maybe humans — can’t get past the two-cell stage without it
![LINE-1 gene](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/062618_TS_transposon_feat.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
LINE-1 DANCE RNA copies of a jumping gene called LINE-1 (red) are mass produced in mouse embryos at the two-cell stage of development (shown). DNA is shown in blue and cells’ outer boundaries are drawn in orange in this microscope image.
M. Percharde et al/Cell 2018