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Related Concept Videos

Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms02:18

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 Organisms02:18

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.
Gene Flow02:39

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
Gene Conversion02:08

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Coevolution within and between genes.

N Galtier1, J Dutheil

  • 1CNRS UMR 5171 - Génome, Populations, Interactions, Adaptation, Université Montpellier 2, France.

Genome Dynamics
|August 30, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Biological molecules coevolve, but evidence differs. RNA stems show strong molecular coevolution signals, while protein coevolution is moderate and harder to interpret, suggesting distinct evolutionary pressures.

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Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
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Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

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A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq
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A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
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Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

Published on: August 18, 2023

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq
07:09

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

Published on: May 28, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Molecular biology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Interacting biological systems, from cells to ecosystems, do not evolve in isolation.
  • Biological molecules, such as RNA and proteins, interact closely and are hypothesized to coevolve.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the scientific literature on molecular coevolution.
  • To investigate coevolutionary patterns within RNA molecules (between residues) and between proteins.
  • To discuss the reasons for discrepancies in coevolutionary signals.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of molecular coevolution studies.
  • Analysis of methodological and bioinformatic approaches used to detect coevolution.
  • Comparison of coevolutionary signals in RNA and protein systems.

Main Results:

  • A strong coevolutionary signal is consistently detected in RNA stems.
  • Protein coevolution signals are moderate and challenging to interpret.
  • Significant differences exist in the detectability and interpretation of molecular coevolution between RNA and proteins.

Conclusions:

  • Molecular coevolution is a recognized phenomenon, but its detection varies across molecule types.
  • RNA stems exhibit robust evidence of coevolution, unlike proteins.
  • Further research is needed to understand the factors contributing to the observed differences in protein and RNA coevolution.