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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.
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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:...
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Conjugation is a form of horizontal gene transfer that primarily occurs in bacteria and some archaea, promoting genetic diversity and adaptation. Bacteria can acquire resistance genes through conjugative plasmids, allowing them to survive antibiotic treatments that would otherwise be lethal. This process involves direct contact between cells through specialized structures such as the sex pilus and is mediated by conjugative plasmids, including the F (fertility) factor.Conjugation requires...
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Asexual organisms, identity and vertical gene transfer.

Gunnar Babcock1

  • 1Philosophy Dept, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY, 12067, USA.

Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
|February 12, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Phylogenetics faces challenges with asexual organisms due to the "identity problem." How parent and offspring are defined impacts understanding vertical gene transfer and phylogenetic tree construction.

Keywords:
Asexual organismsIdentityIndividualityLineagesPhylogeneticsSpecies

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics
  • Phylogenetics

Background:

  • Traditional phylogenetics relies on clear parent-offspring distinctions for lineage tracing.
  • Asexual reproduction, particularly fission, complicates the definition of individual identity over time.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the 'identity problem' in phylogenetics concerning organisms reproducing via fission.
  • To explore the implications of organismal identity on vertical gene transfer and phylogenetic analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of organismal identity in asexual reproduction.
  • Examination of how different identity concepts affect phylogenetic tree construction.

Main Results:

  • The persistence or non-persistence of organismal identity through fission presents distinct models for vertical gene transfer.
  • These differing models lead to divergent interpretations of lineage splitting in phylogenetic trees.

Conclusions:

  • Resolving the 'identity problem' is crucial for accurate phylogenetic reconstructions in asexual lineages.
  • The definition of individual identity directly influences the topology and interpretation of phylogenetic trees.