Studies of HBV in endemic areas throughout the world have resulted in large numbers of full genome sequences available for phylogenetic analysis enabling the identification of novel, mosaic HBV genomes that appear to be the result of recombination between previously known sequences [7, 25, 26] . One of the most comprehensive analyses of putative HBV inter-genotype recombinants showed the existence of 24 phylogenetically independent HBV genomes involving all known human genotypes [27] . Some of these recombinants are unique to individual subjects, but some undergo expansion in specific populations and become recognized as new genotypes or subgenotypes [12, 28, 29, 30] . Four stages in the process of generating popular HBV recombinant genomes should be recognized. The first stage is the co-circulation of different HBV strains or genotypes in the same geographic area. The second is the existence of individuals who have been infected with more than one strain of HBV. The third is the generation of a novel recombinant strain(s) within an individual. The fourth is the selection of a recombined strain with the ability to replicate and be transmitted. Our data show the natural process of the formation and selection of recombination though the recombinant strains of Y2 that appeared in 2006 that were all removed from samples in 2007.