When multiple strains of the same bacterial species are sequenced, what are the features of their genome that are typically observed? Solution Multiple strains of the same bacterial species features: The sequencing of multiple strains from the same bacterial species has clearly demonstrated that horizontal gene transfer accounts for the majority of intraspecies genome differences. Comparative analysis of these bacterial sequences has revealed the movement of phage DNA by lateral transfer as having significant impact on the evolution of the host genome. Escherichia coli is an important component of the biosphere and is an ideal model for studies of processes involved in bacterial genome evolution. The diversity within the species E. coli, and the overlap in gene content between this and related species, suggests a continuum rather than sharp species borders in this group of Enterobacteriaceae..