Seed banks alter the molecular evolutionary dynamics of Bacillus subtilis.

ABSTRACT: Fluctuations in the availability of resources constrain the growth and reproduction of individuals, which subsequently affects the evolution of their respective populations. Many organisms contend with such fluctuations by entering a reversible state of reduced metabolic activity, a phenomenon known as dormancy. This pool of dormant individuals (i.e. a seed bank) does not reproduce and is expected to act as an evolutionary buffer, though it is difficult to observe this effect directly over an extended evolutionary timescale. Through genetic manipulation, we analyze the molecular evolutionary dynamics of Bacillus subtilis populations in the presence and absence of a seed bank over 700 days. The ability of these bacteria to enter a dormant state increased the accumulation of genetic diversit

SUBMITTER: Shoemaker WR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9157070 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature