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Related Concept Videos

Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
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.
Evolutionary Processes in Microbes01:26

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...
Gene Families01:57

Gene Families

Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
09:00

Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance

Published on: May 2, 2018

Evolution by leaps: gene duplication in bacteria.

Margrethe H Serres1, Alastair R W Kerr, Thomas J McCormack

  • 1Josephine Bay Paul Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA. mserres@mbl.edu

Biology Direct
|November 26, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacterial genomes contain gene families that evolve through duplication and divergence. This process drives functional diversity, shaping distinct bacterial physiologies and leading to new taxa.

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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
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Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance

Published on: May 2, 2018

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

Area of Science:

  • Microbial genomics
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Gene and protein families are prevalent in bacterial genomes, with Escherichia coli having over half its genome composed of them.
  • The presence of these families suggests a history of gene duplication and divergence throughout evolution.
  • The composition and size of genome-encoded protein families reflect an organism's metabolic capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare protein family memberships across different bacterial genera.
  • To understand how gene duplication and divergence contribute to bacterial metabolic diversity.
  • To investigate the evolutionary history of bacterial protein families.

Main Methods:

  • Selection of equivalent enzyme families with metabolic functions from four experimentally characterized bacterial genera.
  • Comparative analysis of protein family memberships between these genera.
  • Assessment of divergence in functionally characterized enzyme family members.

Main Results:

  • Similarities and differences in protein family memberships were observed, with greater similarity among closely related organisms.
  • Protein family memberships accurately reflected the known metabolic characteristics of the studied bacteria.
  • Divergence patterns in enzyme families explained known differences in biochemical properties and capabilities between taxa.

Conclusions:

  • Protein families likely originate from gene duplication and divergence events during evolution.
  • Retained gene copies represent variants that lead to distinct bacterial physiologies and taxa.
  • The divergence of duplicate enzymes is a primary mechanism generating bacterial diversity.