"We propose that at least part of the #pangenome can be understood as a set of #genes with relationships that govern their likely cohabitants, analogous to an ecosystem’s set of interacting organisms. Our findings indicate that intragenomic gene fitness effects may be key drivers of #prokaryotic #evolution, influencing the repeated emergence of complex gene–gene relationships across the pangenome."

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2304934120