Figure 1

This figure is a cartoon diagram representing the movement of genes from a variety of gene families as they are sampled by different genomes. Each tree diagram embedded in this network represents the evolutionary history of that particular gene. Genes are continously sampled as public goods and this leads to anastomoses, coalitions and mosaic genomes. Part of this diagram is magnified to demonstrate that the local tree-like pattern that seems to emerge really just results from varying periods where genes co-exist in the same evolving entity.