Kin selection for cooperation in natural bacterial populations.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria produce a range of molecules that are secreted from the cell and can provide a benefit to the local population of cells. Laboratory experiments have suggested that these "public goods" molecules represent a form of cooperation, favored because they benefit closely related cells (kin selection). However, there is a relative lack of data demonstrating kin selection for cooperation in natural populations of bacteria. We used molecular population genetics to test for signatures of kin selection at the genomic level in natural populations of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa We found consistent evidence from multiple traits that genes controlling putatively cooperative traits have higher polymorphism and greater divergence and are more likely to harbor deleteriou

SUBMITTER: Belcher LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8892524 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature