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Related Concept Videos

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

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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.
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The genome of most prokaryotic organisms consists of double-stranded DNA organized into one circular chromosome in a region of cytoplasm called the nucleoid. The chromosome is tightly wound, or supercoiled, for efficient storage. Prokaryotes also contain other circular pieces of DNA called plasmids. These plasmids are smaller than the chromosome and often carry genes that confer adaptive functions, such as antibiotic resistance.
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The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
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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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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.
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Updated: Oct 16, 2025

Heuristic Mining of Hierarchical Genotypes and Accessory Genome Loci in Bacterial Populations
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Genic Selection Within Prokaryotic Pangenomes.

Gavin M Douglas1, B Jesse Shapiro1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Genome Biology and Evolution
|October 19, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Genic selection, where genetic elements are selected over individual cells, significantly shapes prokaryotic pangenome evolution. This includes selfish mobile genetic elements and potentially beneficial genes, impacting microbial diversity.

Keywords:
gene’s eye viewgenic selectionhorizontal gene transfermobile genetic elementspangenomeselfish DNA

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Area of Science:

  • Microbial Evolution
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Prokaryotic pangenome structure is shaped by evolutionary forces.
  • Accessory genes often confer niche-specific adaptations.
  • Previous research focused on selection at the cellular level.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss genic selection as a factor in prokaryotic pangenome variation.
  • To review mobile genetic elements and their potential for genic selection.
  • To explore how beneficial genes can also be under genic selection.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of genic selection mechanisms.
  • Analysis of mobile genetic elements (e.g., selfish elements).
  • Discussion of theoretical frameworks for multi-level selection.

Main Results:

  • Genic selection acts at the level of genetic elements, not just cells.
  • Selfish mobile genetic elements are clear examples of genic selection.
  • Beneficial genes can also be subject to genic selection, though harder to discern.

Conclusions:

  • Genic selection is an important, underappreciated force in prokaryotic pangenome evolution.
  • Understanding genic selection is crucial for comprehending microbial genome diversity.
  • Distinguishing organism-level from gene-level selection is key.