Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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.

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

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 Genes

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.

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:...

Eukaryotic Evolution

Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Endogenous viral elements and PIWI gene evolution in Spodoptera: diversity, conservation, and piRNA production.

Insect biochemistry and molecular biology·2026

Same author

Spiroplasma Are Protective Heritable Symbionts With Low Physiological Impact in the Drosophilid Fly Zaprionus kolodkinae.

Environmental microbiology reports·2026

Same author

Sand fly endosymbionts in Kenya: Rickettsia and Wolbachia associations with Leishmania and detection of Rickettsia africae.

Parasites & vectors·2026

Same author

Tissue tropism and viral levels of Acheta domesticus densovirus throughout the house cricket production.

Current research in insect science·2026

Same author

Iflaviruses in arthropods: when small is mighty.

Insect science·2025

Same author

Improvement of colony management in insect mass-rearing for sterile insect technique applications.

Insect science·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer Mediated by Natural Conjugative Plasmids in E. coli

Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer Mediated by Natural Conjugative Plasmids in E. coli

Published on: March 24, 2023

Lateral gene transfer between prokaryotes and multicellular eukaryotes: ongoing and significant?

Vera I D Ros¹, Gregory D D Hurst

¹Department of Biology, Leidy Laboratories 326, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018, USA. veraros@sas.upenn.edu

|May 7, 2009

Summary

Genes transferred from bacteria to the pea aphid are actively expressed, suggesting potential functional roles. This finding supports the evolutionary importance of gene transfer in symbiotic relationships.

More Related Videos

High-Resolution Comparison of Bacterial Conjugation Frequencies

High-Resolution Comparison of Bacterial Conjugation Frequencies

Published on: January 10, 2019

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

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer Mediated by Natural Conjugative Plasmids in E. coli

Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer Mediated by Natural Conjugative Plasmids in E. coli

Published on: March 24, 2023

High-Resolution Comparison of Bacterial Conjugation Frequencies

High-Resolution Comparison of Bacterial Conjugation Frequencies

Published on: January 10, 2019

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
Evolutionary Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Genome sequencing reveals extensive lateral gene transfer between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.
The functional significance of these transferred genes in recipient hosts remains largely unconfirmed.

Discussion:

Nikoh and Nakabachi demonstrate high expression of two bacterial genes in the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum).
This finding is corroborated by three independent studies indicating active gene expression of horizontally transferred genes.
The study represents a crucial initial step in verifying the functional impact of gene transfer.

Key Insights:

Two bacterial genes show significant expression in the pea aphid, indicating they are not silenced post-transfer.
Active gene expression suggests these genes may be acquiring novel functions in the eukaryotic host.
This research provides empirical evidence for the functional potential of transferred genes.

Outlook:

Future research should investigate protein production and subcellular localization of these expressed genes.
Understanding the functional roles of transferred genes is key to deciphering their evolutionary impact.
Gene transfer between hosts and symbionts may play a critical role in the evolution of symbiotic interactions.