Figure 2

Small intergenes present a high breakpoint density. Intergenic breakpoint density (filled triangle, point up) estimated using model M1 versus intergene size. Mean intergenic breakpoint density (small filled triangle, point down) obtained as the average over 1000 simulated BPR data sets with randomised positions. Data points were obtained by (i) ordering intergenes according to their size, (ii) grouping them into classes of equal number of intergenic breakpoints and (iii) computing intergenic breakpoint density and average intergene size over each class. Vertical bars represent the standard deviations (see Methods); horizontal bars represent the ranges of intergene sizes over each class. The solid line corresponds to an exponential fit of the intergenic breakpoint density curve of equation: d = 0.063 + 0.92 exp(-L/ 165 kb) Mb^-1.