Jumping genes or transposable controlling elements were discovered by Dr. McClintok while studying Maize as presence of moving genetic elements which could detach from one site and move to new positions in either same or different chromosomes. In last few decades such mobile genetic elements have been found in bacteria to human which can move freely from one spot to another. The names given to these elements are transposable elements, transposons, insertion elements and jumping genes. Dr. McClintok was awarded Nobel prize in 1983 for this discovery.