Example of a chimeric genome

Marker genes of the complete Synechococcus elongatus strain PCC 6301 (AP008231, top left) and draft Leptolyngbya boryana strain PCC 6306 (ALVM00000000, top right) genomes have high homology only with close relatives within the clade in which they respectively occur, indicated in red; the genomes are therefore not chimeric.
In contrast, markers of the draft Merismopedia glauca CCAP 1448/3 genome (PVWJ00000000, bottom left) clearly demonstrate a chimeric origin, since homology of 95-100% is observed within several dispersed clades. Inclusion of this genome for tree inference changes the tree topology (bottom right), causing the Chamaesiphon cluster, indicated in green, to move.