Co-evolution with recombination affects the stability of mobile genetic element insertions within gene families of Salmonella

What is it about?

Gene families with multiple copies of the same gene separately located on the chromosome are a frequent feature in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. These gene families present a potential target site for integration of mobile genetic elements. Our results indicate that homologous recombination can protect genes within gene families from inactivation by mobile genetic elements, but for shorter gene sequences the efficiency of repair is very low.

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