Organization and evolution of the bacterial genome
Sukhodolets, V.V.
Microbiological Sciences 5(7): 202-206
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0265-1351 PMID: 3079182 Document Number: 319905
The bacterial chromosome seems to be organized in such a way as to allow the formation of tandem gene duplications, which appear under conditions of positive selection for a high level of gene expression. Multiple gene duplications permit the excision of a gene from the chromosome by a Campbell recombinational event and the subsequent transfer of the gene to a resident plasmid. The latter derives an advantage from carrying a gene providing positive selection. Thus, tandem gene duplications could initiate horizontal gene transfer in bacteria.