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Optimization and Comparative Analysis of Plant Organellar DNA Enrichment Methods Suitable for Next-generation Sequencing
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Genomic Insights into Plastid Evolution.

Shannon J Sibbald1,2, John M Archibald1,2

  • 1Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Genome Biology and Evolution
|May 14, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The origin of plastids via endosymbiosis is crucial for eukaryotic life. Comparative genomics reveals how these organelles evolved and spread across diverse lineages, shaping photosynthetic diversity.

Keywords:
chloroplastsevolutiongenomicsorganelles, algae, protistsphylogenomicsplastids

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • The primary endosymbiotic event involved a cyanobacterial endosymbiont integrating into a eukaryotic host, approximately one billion years ago.
  • This event led to the evolution of diverse algal groups and enabled photosynthesis in various environments.
  • Subsequent horizontal gene transfer, including secondary and tertiary endosymbiosis, has further complicated and enriched photosynthetic diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in understanding plastid origins and spread.
  • To explore the evolutionary trajectory of plastids using comparative genomics.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which endosymbionts transition into organelles.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analysis of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic eukaryotic lineages.
  • Review of recent genomic sampling improvements.
  • Integration of genetic, biochemical, and cell biological data.

Main Results:

  • Genomic data from diverse lineages have provided critical insights into plastid evolution.
  • Comparative genomics helps unravel the complex history of plastid acquisition and retention.
  • Understanding the genetic and cellular basis of endosymbiont-to-organelle transformation.

Conclusions:

  • Plastid origins and their widespread, 'patchy' distribution across the eukaryotic tree highlight complex evolutionary pathways.
  • Algae are not a monophyletic group, underscoring the frequent horizontal transfer of plastids.
  • Comparative genomics is a powerful tool for reconstructing the history of organelle evolution.