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Evolution

The population genetics of prokaryotic pangenomes

Inferring the evolutionary history of prokaryotic pangenomes is complicated by the lack of a reference for neutral genetic variation. A study that uses pseudogenes as a neutral reference provides support for selection as a force that shapes pangenomes.

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Fig. 1: Pseudogenes as a neutral reference to study gene content evolution.

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Correspondence to Maria Rosa Domingo-Sananes.

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Domingo-Sananes, M.R., Meehan, C.J. The population genetics of prokaryotic pangenomes. Nat Ecol Evol 8, 190–191 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02276-6

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