They help bacteria adapt to new conditions and even new sources of nutrition or opportunity by swapping genes.
The cell uses recombination to repair damaged DNA and to swap genes.
Without the ability to swap genes with its pair, it is racking up with mutations and may stop functioning in 10 million years.
Different species appear to be swapping genes through the activities of retroviruses.
A small isolated group, interbreeding freely, swapping genes about - a mutation sticks, and they begin to breed true.
He actually directed what in Nature is a random process of swapping genes from strand to strand.
By swapping genes freely, they shared various of their talents with their contemporaries.
The chromosomes sprang to life - two parents - and quickly, they began to swap genes and reproduce.
The best of these designs are mated together by swapping genes in a way inspired by nature, and the process is repeated.
Bacteria can swap genes (such as genes coding antibiotic resistance) between members of mixed species colonies.