A horizontally transferred nuclear gene is associated with microhabitat variation in a natural plant population.

ABSTRACT: Horizontal gene transfer involves the non-sexual interspecific transmission of genetic material. Even if they are initially functional, horizontally transferred genes are expected to deteriorate into non-expressed pseudogenes, unless they become adaptively relevant in the recipient organism. However, little is known about the distributions of natural transgenes within wild species or the adaptive significance of natural transgenes within wild populations. Here, we examine the distribution of a natural plant-to-plant nuclear transgene in relation to environmental variation within a wild population. Festuca ovina is polymorphic for an extra (second) expressed copy of the nuclear gene (PgiC) encoding cytosolic phosphoglucose isomerase, with the extra PgiC locus having been acquired horizontal

SUBMITTER: Prentice HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4707765 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature