Investigating Evolutionary Rate Variation in Bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Rates of molecular evolution are known to vary between species and across all kingdoms of life. Here, we explore variation in the rate at which bacteria accumulate mutations (accumulation rates) in their natural environments over short periods of time. We have compiled estimates of the accumulation rate for over 34 species of bacteria, the majority of which are pathogens evolving either within an individual host or during outbreaks. Across species, we find that accumulation rates vary by over 3700-fold. We investigate whether accumulation rates are associated to a number potential correlates including genome size, GC content, measures of the natural selection and the time frame over which the accumulation rates were estimated. After controlling for phylogenetic non-independence, we find th

SUBMITTER: Gibson B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6858405 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature