Abstract
Locus variation and sequence conservation of mouse LTR-IS elements, a new family of middle repetitive DNA sequences was studied. It is shown that LTR-IS sequences are present in all the inbred strains and subspecies of M. musculus tested and in M. cooki and M. caroli. Their arrangement in mouse genomes is polymorphic. Southern blot analysis and DNA sequencing revealed the existence of homologous DNA sequences with and without LTR-IS element insertion. LTR-IS sequences therefore appear to have arisen in early mouse ancestors and have, at least at some point, been mobile.