Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Transgenic Organisms00:53

Transgenic Organisms

Overview
Transgenic Organisms00:53

Transgenic Organisms

Overview
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.
Transduction01:16

Transduction

Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Enteric populations of <i>Escherichia coli</i> are likely to be resistant to phages due to O antigen expression.

mSphere·2026
Same author

Bacteriophage Heteroresistance as a Cause of Treatment Failure in Urinary Tract Infections.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

The role of the innate immune system in shaping the dynamics of antimicrobial treatment.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Identification of transporter-dependent capsular loci associated with the invasive potential of Escherichia coli.

Nature microbiology·2026
Same author

A theoretical exploration of protocols for treating prosthetic joint infections with combinations of antibiotics and bacteriophage.

NPJ biofilms and microbiomes·2026
Same author

The role of innate immunity, antibiotics, and bacteriophages in the course of bacterial infections and their treatment.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same journal

Riboflavin Salvage Supports Glycolysis in Borrelia burgdorferi Through Flavin-Dependent NAD<sup>+</sup> Regeneration.

Molecular microbiology·2026
Same journal

Distinct Spatial Organisation of Rho and RNA Polymerase in Salmonella Cells.

Molecular microbiology·2026
Same journal

A Single-Nucleotide Substitution Generates a de Novo Promoter That Activates a Latent Metabolic Bypass in Escherichia coli.

Molecular microbiology·2026
Same journal

A Phosphorylation-Dependent Partner-Switching-Like Module Regulates a Glycosyltransferase Required for Heterocyst Polysaccharide Layer Formation in Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120.

Molecular microbiology·2026
Same journal

Chain-Length Regulation by WzzE Is Necessary for, but Genetically Separable From, Cyclic Enterobacterial Common Antigen Synthesis.

Molecular microbiology·2026
Same journal

To Move or Not to Move: When and How Bacteria Suppress Flagellar Motility.

Molecular microbiology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Manipulation of Gene Function in Mexican Cavefish
07:01

Manipulation of Gene Function in Mexican Cavefish

Published on: April 22, 2019

Adjusting to alien genes.

Pål J Johnsen1, Bruce R Levin

  • 1Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway. paal.johnsen@uit.no

Molecular Microbiology
|February 13, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows bacteria to gain new functions, but acquired genes initially reduce fitness. Bacteria rapidly adapt to these new genes through increased expression, not alteration, within generations.

More Related Videos

Genome Editing in Astyanax mexicanus Using Transcription Activator-like Effector Nucleases (TALENs)
07:42

Genome Editing in Astyanax mexicanus Using Transcription Activator-like Effector Nucleases (TALENs)

Published on: June 20, 2016

Optogenetic Random Mutagenesis Using Histone-miniSOG in C. elegans
04:51

Optogenetic Random Mutagenesis Using Histone-miniSOG in C. elegans

Published on: November 14, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Manipulation of Gene Function in Mexican Cavefish
07:01

Manipulation of Gene Function in Mexican Cavefish

Published on: April 22, 2019

Genome Editing in Astyanax mexicanus Using Transcription Activator-like Effector Nucleases (TALENs)
07:42

Genome Editing in Astyanax mexicanus Using Transcription Activator-like Effector Nucleases (TALENs)

Published on: June 20, 2016

Optogenetic Random Mutagenesis Using Histone-miniSOG in C. elegans
04:51

Optogenetic Random Mutagenesis Using Histone-miniSOG in C. elegans

Published on: November 14, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a significant mechanism for bacterial evolution, enabling rapid acquisition of novel genetic material.
  • While retrospective evidence for HGT is abundant, the dynamic process and its immediate consequences for bacterial fitness remain less understood.

Discussion:

  • This study investigates the dynamics of HGT in bacteria, focusing on the fitness implications of acquiring foreign ribosomal proteins.
  • The research explores theoretical and experimental models to understand bacterial adaptation to horizontally transferred genes.

Key Insights:

  • Acquisition of foreign ribosomal proteins initially decreases fitness in *Salmonella Typhimurium*.
  • Bacterial adaptation to these alien genes occurs rapidly (within 40-250 generations) primarily through increased gene expression via gene amplification.
  • This adaptation strategy explains the overrepresentation of duplicated genes among horizontally transferred genes.

Outlook:

  • Further research can explore the broader applicability of gene amplification as an initial adaptation mechanism for other types of horizontally transferred genes.
  • Understanding these dynamics is crucial for predicting bacterial evolution and managing antibiotic resistance.
  • Investigating the interplay between HGT, gene duplication, and fitness costs provides insights into genome evolution.