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The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
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Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains
06:45

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Published on: January 18, 2014

Adaptive mutations in bacteria: high rate and small effects.

Lília Perfeito1, Lisete Fernandes, Catarina Mota

  • 1Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, number 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 11, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Researchers discovered a high rate of beneficial mutations in Escherichia coli, 1000 times greater than previously thought. This finding impacts our understanding of antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity evolution.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains
06:45

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Published on: January 18, 2014

Precise, High-throughput Analysis of Bacterial Growth
09:00

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Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay
07:44

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Microbial genetics

Background:

  • Evolution by natural selection relies on the generation of adaptive mutations.
  • Understanding mutation rates is crucial for predicting evolutionary trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure the genomic mutation rate of beneficial mutations in Escherichia coli.
  • To determine the fitness effects of these beneficial mutations.

Main Methods:

  • Culturing Escherichia coli under conditions minimizing competition between lineages.
  • Quantifying the rate of beneficial mutations per genome per generation.
  • Assessing the mean selective advantage conferred by these mutations.

Main Results:

  • Identified a beneficial mutation rate of approximately 10^-5 per genome per generation.
  • Found this rate to be 1000 times higher than prior estimates.
  • Determined a mean selective advantage of 1% for beneficial mutations.

Conclusions:

  • The high rate of adaptive mutation in Escherichia coli has significant implications.
  • This rate influences the evolution of antibiotic resistance.
  • It also impacts the development of pathogenicity in bacterial populations.