Giant mobile elements: Agents of multivariate phenotypic evolution in fungi

Fungal mobile genetic elements are typically small, vertically inherited, and are not known to encode adaptive traits. A new study documents HEPHAESTUS - a large, horizontally transferred, cargo-carrying mobile element that confers tolerance to several metals in fungi.

Automated summary

A new study identifies HEPHAESTUS as a large, horizontally transferred mobile genetic element in fungi that carries cargo and confers tolerance to multiple metals.