Transcriptome divergence and the loss of plasticity in Bacillus subtilis after 6,000 generations of evolution under relaxed selection for sporulation.

ABSTRACT: We used microarrays to identify the causes of sporulation deficiencies in Bacillus subtilis after 6,000 generations of evolution. We found that sporulation loss did not result from large-scale deletions; therefore, it must have resulted from smaller indels and/or substitutions. Transcription patterns of one strain versus its ancestor showed that sporulation was not initiated and suggested that sporulation loss may be part of an overall decline in plasticity.

SUBMITTER: Maughan H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2612453 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature