The 13 rRNA-free atypical regions vary in size from 1.5 to 19.5 kb and make up 3.3% of the genome (Table 1 , Annex 4 and Figure 3 , see Annex 5 for a segmentation of the H.influenzae genome in terms of genes). About 50% of atypical regions are less than (or around) 2.5 kb long. Numbers for H.influenzae are clearly at variance with those for B.subtilis: a smaller percentage of the genome qualifies as atypical and the average size of atypical regions is also smaller. This result is examined below in the context of intra-species signature variability (see Discussion).