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Archived Comments for: Identification of multiple independent horizontal gene transfers into poxviruses using a comparative genomics approach

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  1. Photolyase phylogeny

    David Evans, University of Alberta

    11 March 2008

    Interesting paper. Our earlier analysis of the photolyase (PL) phylogeny VERY strongly suggested all poxvirus PL's are monophyletic, with a common origin that predates the divergence of their disparate hosts. If horizontal transfer were operational one might predict entomopoxvirus PL's to more closely resemble insect PL's and chordopoxvirus PL's to resemble chordate PL's. That's not seen.

    Curious problem.

    The reference is Bennett et al. (2003) Virology 315: 10-19.

    David Evans

    Competing interests

    None.

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