Extensive horizontal gene transfers between plant pathogenic fungi

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) plays an important role in the adaptation of lineages to changing environments. The extent of this process in eukaryotes, however, remains controversial. The most well-known and dramatic form of HGT represents intracellular gene transfer from endosymbionts to the host nuclear genome. Such episodes of transfer typically involve hundreds of genes and are thought to be possible only in the case of endosymbiosis.Using...