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Export of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Genes

Export of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Genes

A eukaryotic cell can have up to three different types of genetic systems: nuclear, mitochondrial, and chloroplast. During evolution, organelles have exported many genes to the nucleus; this transfer is still ongoing in some plant species. Approximately 18% of the Arabidopsis thaliana nuclear genome is thought to be derived from the chloroplast’s cyanobacterial ancestor, and around 75% of the yeast genome derived from the mitochondria’s bacterial ancestor. This export has occurred irrespective...

Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms

Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms

Genetic transfer occurs when genetic information is passed from one organism to another. It occurs via two mechanisms: vertical gene transfer and horizontal gene transfer. Vertical gene transfer occurs when genetic information is transferred from one generation to the next, which happens much more frequently than horizontal gene transfer. Both sexual and asexual reproduction are forms of vertical gene transfer, where one or more organisms pass some or all of their genome onto their progeny.

Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms

Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms

Genetic transfer occurs when genetic information is passed from one organism to another. It occurs via two mechanisms: vertical gene transfer and horizontal gene transfer. Vertical gene transfer occurs when genetic information is transferred from one generation to the next, which happens much more frequently than horizontal gene transfer. Both sexual and asexual reproduction are forms of vertical gene transfer, where one or more organisms pass some or all of their genome onto their progeny.

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a process where genetic material moves between organisms within the same generation, unlike vertical gene transfer, which occurs from parent to offspring. HGT plays a crucial role in microbial evolution, adaptation, and survival, particularly in shared environments like the human gut.Mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, prophages, integrons, insertion sequences, and transposons facilitate this process. HGT occurs through three primary mechanisms:...

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Diversity of Protists I

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Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Genetic Engineering of Green Microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Genetic Engineering of Green Microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris

Published on: October 27, 2023

Horizontal gene transfer in chromalveolates.

Tetyana Nosenko¹, Debashish Bhattacharya

¹University of Iowa, Department of Biological Sciences and the Roy J, Carver Center for Comparative Genomics, 446 Biology Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. tetyana-nosenko@uiowa.edu

BMC Evolutionary Biology

|September 27, 2007

Summary

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) introduces genetic novelty in free-living protists, impacting genome evolution. This study reveals ancient and recent HGT events in dinoflagellates, highlighting gene exchange as a key adaptation mechanism.

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Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

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Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: March 10, 2017

Area of Science:

* Genomics and Evolutionary Biology
* Protistology and Marine Biology

Background:

* Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a significant evolutionary force in eukaryotes.
* Dinoflagellates, unicellular chromalveolate protists, are key subjects for studying HGT's impact on genome evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

* To investigate the role and impact of HGT on the genome evolution of free-living protists.
* To identify and analyze horizontally transferred genes in the dinoflagellate alga *Karenia brevis*.

Main Methods:

* Phylogenomic analyses were performed on expressed sequence tag (EST) data.
* Analysis focused on a clonal cell line of *Karenia brevis*.

Main Results:

* Identified 17 proteins originating from HGT in chromalveolates: 16 from ancient HGTs and 1 from a recent HGT.
* Eight identified proteins resulted from independent HGT events across various eukaryotic lineages.
* Demonstrated HGT's role in generating genetic novelty in free-living protists, not just parasitic taxa.

Conclusions:

* Recurring gene exchange, both intra- and interdomain, is a vital source of genetic novelty in protists.
* Studying the evolution of horizontally transferred genes in protists enhances understanding of eukaryotic adaptation mechanisms.