File:Cobwebsoflife.jpg

Summary
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0030347.g001

Horizontal gene transfers—gene exchange between non-related organisms—appear commonplace among bacteria, but contribute just small bits of genetic information, leaving the traditional tree of life intact

From: Comparing Gene Trees and Genome Trees: A Cobweb of Life? PLoS Biology Vol. 3, No. 10, e347 doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030347 http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=slideshow&type=figure&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0030347&id=36052

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