Solutions For An Introduction to Genetic Analysis Chapter 15 Problem 38P

In the Caenorhabditis elegans genome, there are 32 copies of Tc1 transposon and less than 5 copies of Tc2 transposon. All the 32 copies of Tc1 can be silenced by one dsRNA (double stranded ribonucleic acid) synthesized from a single family member.

The below diagram explains the above mentioned mechanism:

There are 32 copies of Tc1 while only a few copies of Tc2 because Tc1 transposon is more active than Tc2. The transposon Tc1 multiples much faster than Tc2 transposon.