Rearrangements of Genetic Material in Escherichia coli As Observed on the Bacteriophage P1 Plasmid

IS elements (Starlinger and Saedler 1976; Bukhari et al. 1977) play an important role in structural rearrangements of genetic materials, particularly because of their ability to transpose, either alone or together with linked genetic materials, and to generate deletions and inversions. Possibly, IS elements and transposons (transposable, or Tn, elements) are widespread in nature, and in addition to being driving forces in evolution, they may fulfill yet unknown important functions.