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

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

7.9K
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.
7.9K
Bacterial Transformation01:33

Bacterial Transformation

55.1K
In 1928, bacteriologist Frederick Griffith worked on a vaccine for pneumonia, which is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Griffith studied two pneumonia strains in mice: one pathogenic and one non-pathogenic. Only the pathogenic strain killed host mice.
Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
55.1K
Antibiotic Selection00:57

Antibiotic Selection

52.3K
Overview
52.3K
Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms02:18

Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms

27.0K
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.
27.0K
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

3.5K
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...
3.5K
Microbial Nutrition01:28

Microbial Nutrition

Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Natural enemies mediate the impact of plant microbiota on insect-borne virus transmission.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Symbiotic bacteria may support calcium carbonate precipitation in the Gulf toadfish.

PLoS biology·2026
Same author

Phylogenomics reveals the evolution of floral traits associated with pollinators and pollinator-prey conflict within the carnivorous Pinguicula subgenus Temnoceras.

American journal of botany·2026
Same author

A Volatile Cue From a Specialist Herbivore Primes Gene Expression Against Biotic Stress in Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima L.).

Plant, cell & environment·2025
Same author

Are carnivorous plants mixotrophic?

The New phytologist·2025
Same author

Species-specific phylloplane responses to changes in external pH.

Journal of experimental botany·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution
08:11

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution

Published on: June 14, 2024

668

Genome evolution following an ecological shift in nectar-dwelling Acinetobacter.

Vivianna A Sanchez1, Tanya Renner2, Lydia J Baker1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.

Msphere
|December 26, 2024
PubMed
Summary

The bacterial genus Acinetobacter evolved from soil to floral nectar by losing some genes and gaining others, notably pectin degradation genes. This adaptation allows them to thrive in the nutrient-poor nectar environment.

Keywords:
Acinetobacterevolutiongenomicsmicrobial ecologyplant–microbe interactions

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System
05:06

Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System

Published on: January 5, 2024

532
Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
09:00

Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance

Published on: May 2, 2018

11.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution
08:11

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution

Published on: June 14, 2024

668
Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System
05:06

Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System

Published on: January 5, 2024

532
Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
09:00

Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance

Published on: May 2, 2018

11.6K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • The bacterial genus Acinetobacter exhibits remarkable habitat flexibility, inhabiting diverse environments from soil to host-associated niches.
  • Understanding the genetic underpinnings of habitat switches in bacteria is crucial for comprehending their evolutionary trajectories.
  • Floral nectar represents a specialized, nutritionally unbalanced habitat that has been successfully colonized by certain Acinetobacter lineages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genomic adaptations enabling Acinetobacter to transition from soil-dwelling to floral nectar-dwelling lifestyles.
  • To compare the genomes of nectar-associated Acinetobacter with their environmental relatives to identify key genetic changes.
  • To elucidate the specific genes and metabolic pathways involved in floral nectar adaptation.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analyses of nectar-dwelling and non-nectar-dwelling Acinetobacter species.
  • Genome size reduction and gene content analysis.
  • Identification of gene gains and losses, including horizontal gene transfer events.
  • Analysis of gene duplication and selection pressures on acquired genes.

Main Results:

  • Nectar-dwelling Acinetobacter lineages show genome size reduction compared to their relatives.
  • Significant gene gains and losses were observed, indicating dynamic genome evolution.
  • Acquisition of pectin-degrading genes from plant pathogens was a notable event, with evidence of duplication and selection.
  • Metabolic shifts suggest adaptation to monosaccharide utilization and nitrogen scavenging in nectar.

Conclusions:

  • The transition of Acinetobacter to floral nectar is associated with both gene loss and strategic gene gain.
  • The acquisition and duplication of pectin-degrading genes represent a key adaptation for nutrient acquisition in floral nectar.
  • These genomic changes facilitate the exploitation of a novel, nutrient-limited ecological niche.