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Bacteria share genes all the time. RMS would approve
(sh.itjust.works)
Hey bro, can I have some antibiotic resistance?
Sure bro, but remember that the heavy metal tolerance gene is a dependency.
Shit, I'm on python 2 but hmrA requires python 3.
It's the cleaning up of code by making it easier to read or rewriting something in a less convoluted way. Originally you just wanted it to be done quick so you coded it in a sloppy way. Now you have "debt" that needs to be fixed. You don't really gain anything by cleaning it, so it wastes your time instead of implementing something new.
Well, technically the actual cleaning up part is "refactoring."
I wanted to use words a layman would know.