MainEvolution has dedicated a vast number of enzymes to the task of rearranging and diversifying the genome. This process enables the emergence and functional specialization of new genes, the development of immunity3 and the opportunistic spread of viruses and mobile genetic elements (MGEs)1,2. MGEs are abundant throughout all domains of life and often mobilize through a transposase, integrase, homing endonuclease or recombinase. These enzymes typically recognize DNA through protein–DNA contacts...