The effect of extrinsic mortality on genome size evolution in prokaryotes.

ABSTRACT: Mortality has a significant role in prokaryotic ecology and evolution, yet the impact of variations in extrinsic mortality on prokaryotic genome evolution has received little attention. We used both mathematical and agent-based models to reveal how variations in extrinsic mortality affect prokaryotic genome evolution. Our results suggest that the genome size of bacteria increases with increased mortality. A high extrinsic mortality increases the pool of free resources and shortens life expectancy, which selects for faster reproduction, a phenotype we called 'scramblers'. This phenotype is realised by the expansion of gene families involved in nutrient acquisition and metabolism. In contrast, a low mortality rate increases an individual's life expectancy, which results in natural selection

SUBMITTER: Bentkowski P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5364348 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature