Where bacteria get their genes.(Antibiotic Resistance)

From: USA Today (Magazine) | Date: June 1, 2005 | Copyright information

Bacteria acquire up to 90% of their genetic material from distantly related bacteria species, according to research from the University of Arizona, Tucson. The finding has important biomedical implications because such gene-swapping, or lateral gene transfer, is the way many pathogenic bacteria pick up antibiotic resistance or become virulent.

"To maintain effective treatments and develop new antibiotics, it's important to monitor the rates and patterns of lateral gene t...

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