ABSTRACT
As diagrammed by Frazer et al.,[8] genome sequence comparisons between multiple species varying in genetic distance provide tremendous insight into conserved genetic elements residing within a genome. In general, highly conserved segments of DNA across distant species are indicative of a DNA segment with a critical function. At the other end of the spectrum, sequences that are unique to a species most likely contain DNA elements that confer species uniqueness or prevent interspecific hybridization. Once conserved DNA elements are identified, then a variety of approaches can be used to determine the function of the conserved element.
