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Related Concept Videos

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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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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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Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
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Bacterial cells were initially considered simple, randomly organized structures lacking a cytoskeleton. However, the discovery of cytoskeleton homologs in bacteria led to the change of this opinion. Bacterial cytoskeletal filaments regulate the cell shape, cell polarity, cell division, and partitioning of plasmids during cell division. It was later discovered that bacterial cytoskeletal proteins, mainly actin and tubulin homologs, are diverse compared to their eukaryotic counterparts. On the...
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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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Updated: May 23, 2025

High-Resolution Comparison of Bacterial Conjugation Frequencies
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Interactions and evolutionary relationships among bacterial mobile genetic elements.

Andrew S Lang1, Alison Buchan2, Vincent Burrus3

  • 1Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. aslang@mun.ca.

Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|March 12, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) significantly impact bacterial evolution and ecology. This review clarifies new MGE terms and explores their complex interactions and evolutionary relationships within bacteria.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are crucial drivers of bacterial evolution and ecological adaptation.
  • Recent decades have seen a surge in the discovery of novel MGE types across diverse bacterial lineages.
  • The proliferation of new MGEs introduces a complex nomenclature and challenges in understanding their interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify emerging terminology and identify key bacterial mobile genetic elements.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on MGEs in bacteria.
  • To elucidate the intricate evolutionary relationships and molecular interactions among MGEs and their hosts.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of recent findings on bacterial MGEs.
  • Analysis of evolutionary connections and gene-sharing mechanisms among different MGE types.
  • Examination of molecular interactions, both cooperative and antagonistic, between MGEs within bacterial cells.

Main Results:

  • Identification and clarification of numerous new bacterial MGEs and associated acronyms.
  • Evidence of extensive gene exchange and complex interactions among various MGEs.
  • Demonstration that MGEs are not isolated entities but engage in dynamic relationships influencing host organisms.

Conclusions:

  • A unified understanding of bacterial MGEs requires addressing new terminology and their interconnectedness.
  • MGEs exhibit complex evolutionary trajectories and interactions, profoundly shaping bacterial populations.
  • Further research into MGE dynamics is essential for comprehending bacterial adaptation and evolution.