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Where the genes flow

Particles of organic matter in the ocean host diverse communities of microorganisms. These particles may serve as hotspots of bacterial gene exchange, creating opportunities for microbial evolution.

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Figure 1: Routes of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria and archaea.
Figure 2: Genes encoding enzymes involved in DNA transfer in marine microbes.

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Correspondence to Frank J. Stewart.

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Stewart, F. Where the genes flow. Nature Geosci 6, 688–690 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1939

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