Gene order is generally well preserved at close phylogenetic distances [ 7].
I think that this difference is probably artifactual, and due to anomalous measurement of the phylogenetic distances between organisms.
Between E. coli and Haemophilus influenzae, with a comparable phylogenetic distance, common gene content is around 70%.
Common gene content thus has disadvantages as a measure for estimating phylogenetic distances.
Another limitation is that painting across great phylogenetic distance often results in a decreased efficiency.
A limitation is that hybridization efficiencies decrease with increasing phylogenetic distance.
Many investigators favor chickens because of their phylogenetic distance from mammals.
The length of the horizontal branches represents the relative phylogenetic distance between the species.
Gene order is extensively conserved at small phylogenetic distances, mostly because rearrangement has not yet had time to occur.
The risk of cross-species disease transmission is decreased because of their increased phylogenetic distance from humans .