Horizontal gene transfer dynamics and distribution of fitness effects during microbial in silico evolution.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a process that facilitates the transfer of genetic material between organisms that are not directly related, and thus can affect both the rate of evolution and emergence of traits. Recent phylogenetic studies reveal HGT events are likely ubiquitous in the Tree of Life. However, our knowledge of HGT's role in evolution and biological organization is very limited, mainly due to the lack of ancestral evolutionary signatures and the difficulty to observe complex evolutionary dynamics in a laboratory setting. Here, we utilize a multi-scale microbial evolution model to comprehensively study the effect of HGT on the evolution of complex traits and organization of gene regulatory networks.

Results

Large-scale simulations reveal a distinct

SUBMITTER: Mozhayskiy V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3382434 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature