Transposable elements (TEs) form a major community in eukaryotic genome ecosystems, where they often account for at least half of total content. The discovery of transposons has forced biologists to view genomes as much more dynamic systems than previously imagined. In addition, TE derived DNA tools are widely used in mutagenesis (gene discovery), genetic mapping (markers) and transgenesis. The most intriguing issues surrounding TEs are their interaction with host genome and their persistent proliferation during evolution despite being mutagens. Our research aims to understand how transposable elements shape genome function and evolution.