Question

Can someone explain what really Genomic Islands are? Along with fitness islands and pathogenic islands s it relates to microbiology.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Genomic islands are specially spoken about regarding bacteria. They are usually part of genome which has horizontal origins. They are DNA segments with some mobile elements. They are actually tools of bacterial horizontal gene transfer. They serve a large range of functions including symbiosis, pathogenesis, adaptation etc.

The genes which are clustered and contributes to fitness of a particular organism are referred to as fitness islands.

The genes which are clustered and contributes to pathogenecity of a particular organism are referred to as pathogenecity islands.