title: Accepting Foreign Genes.
abstract: Three recent papers underline the importance of the host genomic background in allowing the stable maintenance of horizontally acquired genes. These studies suggest that post-transfer changes in both host genome and acquired genes contribute to the stable integration of foreign genes.
authors.affiliation: Dpto. Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), C/José Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain. mcnb119@mncn.csic.es.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5792-8238
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boto
mesh_terms: D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal / Q000235:genetics*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D034982:Integration Host Factors; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D034982:Integration Host Factors
keywords: Contingency; Evolution; Horizontal gene transfer; Integration of foreign genes