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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Genome-wide Gene Deletions in Streptococcus sanguinis by High Throughput PCR
Published on: November 23, 2012
Genes lost and genes found: evolution of bacterial pathogenesis and symbiosis
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85718, USA. hochman@email.arizona.edu
Abstract:
Traditionally, evolutionary biologists have viewed mutations within individual genes as the major source of phenotypic variation leading to adaptation through natural selection, and ultimately generating diversity among species. Although such processes must contribute to the initial development of gene functions and their subsequent fine-tuning, changes in genome repertoire, occurring through gene acquisition and deletion, are the major events underlying the emergence and evolution of bacterial pathogens and symbionts. Furthermore, pathogens and symbionts depend on similar mechanisms for interacting with hosts and show parallel trends in genome evolution.
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