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Conjugative Mating Assays for Sequence-specific Analysis of Transfer Proteins Involved in Bacterial Conjugation
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Why do mobile genetic elements transfer DNA of their hosts?

Michiel Vos1, Angus Buckling2, Bram Kuijper3

  • 1European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Environment and Sustainability Institute, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK; Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK.

Trends in Genetics : TIG
|September 20, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) transfer host DNA, potentially boosting natural selection through increased genetic variation. This review explores MGE-host DNA transfer benefits and costs, suggesting MGE-mediated sex may benefit hosts.

Keywords:
bacterial sexconjugationhorizontal gene transfermobile genetic elementsmodifiersrecombinationtransduction

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