Bacteria are the most ubiquitous of all organisms. Responsible for a number of diseases and for many of the chemical cycles on which life depends, they are gene

This open access book offers the first comprehensive account of the pan-genome concept and its manifold implications. The realization that the genetic repertoir

An exploration of the raw power of genetic material to refashion itself to any purpose... Virtually all organisms contain multiple mobile DNAs that can move fro

Nearly four decades ago Richard Dawkins published The Selfish Gene, famously reducing humans to “survival machines” whose sole purpose was to preserve “th

Genetic engineering and biotechnology along with conventional breeding have played an important role in developing superior cultivars by transferring economical