[Homology and evolution of gene order: a simple method for testing a hypothesis on the nature of this evolution]

A method of testing various hypotheses concerning the mechanisms of evolution of gene order is suggested. Estimating the possibility of constructing an evolutionary tree that reflects the observed similarity between gene orders studied is proposed, provided that the distances between gene orders correspond to estimations obtained on the basis of the hypothesis tested. The required IBM PC software was developed. It was found that gene orders of the mouse, rabbit, cow, cat, lemur, capuchin monkey, rhesus monkey, gorilla, chimpanzee, and man could be readily interpreted in terms of the simplest ("map") model of transformation of these orders.