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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:...

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.

Transposons

Transposons

Transposons, or "jumping genes," are small mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that range from 700 to 40,000 base pairs in length. They are found in all organisms and can move within the same chromosome or transfer to different chromosomes. In some cases, transposons can also jump between different host DNA molecules, such as plasmids or viruses, contributing to genetic variability.Barbara McClintock first discovered these mobile genetic elements in the 1940s while studying maize genetics, and she...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers

Published on: June 24, 2019

Codon bias, tRNA pools and horizontal gene transfer.

¹Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Molecular Genetics; Weizmann Institute of Science; Rehovot, Israel.

Mobile Genetic Elements

|October 22, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) influences bacterial evolution by affecting gene fixation and tRNA pools. This suggests current methods likely underestimate the frequency of HGT events in microbial communities.

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Last Updated: May 28, 2026

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers

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Published on: June 24, 2019

Measurement of Specific Mycobacterial Mistranslation Rates with Gain-of-function Reporter Systems

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Published on: April 26, 2019

Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Location(s) for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach

Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Location(s) for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach

Published on: September 11, 2017

Area of Science:

Microbial Evolution
Genetics
Bioinformatics

Background:

Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) is a significant driver of bacterial genome evolution.
Bacteria optimize growth rates through selection on codon usage bias.
The interplay between HGT and codon bias in bacterial adaptation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the coupling between Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) and codon usage bias in bacteria.
To determine how codon bias of transferred genes affects their fixation probability.
To assess the impact of frequent HGT on the similarity of tRNA pools within microbial communities.

Main Methods:

Analysis of gene sequences and codon usage patterns in bacterial genomes.
Computational modeling to simulate HGT events and gene fixation.
Comparison of tRNA gene content across different bacterial species and communities.

Main Results:

The codon bias of horizontally transferred genes significantly influences their likelihood of becoming fixed in a recipient genome.
Frequent HGT events can lead to increased similarity in tRNA pools among bacteria within the same ecological community.
Existing methods for inferring HGT likely underestimate the true number of transfer events.

Conclusions:

Codon usage bias is a critical factor in the evolutionary success of horizontally transferred genes.
HGT plays a crucial role in shaping microbial community composition and function through tRNA pool homogenization.
The principles governing HGT in bacteria may extend to other mobile genetic elements like plasmids and viruses.