The VGP was established as a free resource on the world wide web for people interested in the process of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and its ecological and evolutionary significance. The focus of this site is on plasmids.
For basic information on bacteria, DNA, and gene transfer mechanisms, we have created the Teachers/Students section, which also includes definitions of many terms, and links to exciting lesson plans. For those interested in digging deeper into current research about horizontal gene transfer and mobile genetic elements, we've created the Plasmids and Phages sections, as well as About Top Lab, which gives insight into one of the premier plasmid research laboratories of today, that of Dr. Eva Top at the University of Idaho.
