Horizontal gene transfer is invoked to explain how there is often extreme similarity between small portions of the genomes of two organisms that are otherwise very distantly related. Horizontal gene transfer seems to be common among many microbes. Also, eukaryotic cells seem to have experienced a transfer of some genetic material from their chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes to their nuclear chromosomes. COUNT 3
QSN1 What is an explanation for the resemblance between disparate parts of the genome? ANS1 Horizontal gene transfer QSN2 In which organisms does horizontal gene transfer appear to occur commonly? ANS2 microbes QSN3 Parts of which organelle genomes are thought to have ended up in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells via transfer? ANS3 chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes