Bacteria -- Functions of archaeal nucleoid proteins: archaeal silencers are still missing -- Acquired and innate immunity in prokaryote define their evolutionary story -- Mobile genetic elements -- Viruses of the archaea and evolution of life -- Overlooked "broad-host range vector particles" (VPs) in the environ -- Bacteria-virus interaction -- Plasmids and their hosts -- Bacterial transposable elements -- RNA-mediated crosstalk between bacterial host genome and foreign genetic elements -- Extracellular DNA in seawater and marine sediment -- Acquiring phenotypic diversification on genomic diversification.

This book comprehensively discusses our current understanding of the role and biological mechanisms of horizontal transfer of genetic elements in the environment, which has been important in the evolution of prokaryotes (archaea and bacteria). Horizontal transfer of genetic elements generates variations of prokaryotes and their genomes. Comparative studies of genomes revealed that it frequently occurred during archaeal and bacterial evolution. The book introduces a variety of studies related to horizontal gene transfer, gene silencing, plasmids, phages, transposons, and the emergence of microbes that degrade man-made xenobiotics and have antimicrobial resistance. Written by leading researchers in DNA traffic, the book is a valuable guide to horizontal transfer for both young scientists and experts in the field.