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Selfish, Virus-Like DNA Can Carry Genes Between Species

The Quanta Podcast

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Copying and Inserting Genes: Mavericks and Horizontal Gene Transfer

This chapter explores the discovery of a gene that was copied and inserted into another species through the study of roundworm genomes. The presence of transposons, viral genes, and a glue-like protein that integrates viral DNA into a host genome sheds light on horizontal gene transfer and the role of mavericks in evolution.

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