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Related Concept Videos

Horizontal Gene Transfer01:27

Horizontal Gene Transfer

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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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Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms02:18

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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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Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms02:18

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Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

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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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Transformation01:26

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Microbial communities are dynamic environments where cell lysis releases free DNA into the surroundings. Other cells can take up this extracellular DNA through a process known as transformation.When a cell incorporates this foreign DNA into its genome, resulting in genetic modification, the process is known as transformation. Cells capable of this process are termed competent. Competence can be natural, as observed in certain bacteria and archaea, or artificially induced in the...
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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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A Hydroponic Co-cultivation System for Simultaneous and Systematic Analysis of Plant/Microbe Molecular Interactions and Signaling
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Land plant evolution: from microbial interaction to horizontal gene transfer.

Jinling Huang1, Qia Wang2

  • 1Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, and Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China; State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China.

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|October 30, 2025
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Summary

Microbial interactions are crucial for plant evolution, providing genetic material through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). This process facilitated key innovations and diversification in land plants, highlighting microbes as essential resources.

Keywords:
adaptationgenetic integrationmicrobial genesplant colonization of landplant evolution

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Plant Science

Background:

  • Microbe-plant interactions are fundamental to plant growth, adaptation, and genetic makeup.
  • Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from microbes is observed across plant lineages, particularly in early land plants like charophytes and bryophytes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent data on the role of horizontally acquired microbial genes in land plant evolution.
  • To discuss the significance of microbial interactions and genetic integration in plant diversification.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on HGT events and their impact on plant evolution.
  • Analysis of existing data on microbial gene acquisition in different plant groups.

Main Results:

  • Horizontally transferred microbial genes have driven significant physiological and structural innovations in land plants.
  • HGT appears frequent in charophytes and bryophytes, suggesting early importance in plant evolution.

Conclusions:

  • Microbes serve as vital ecological partners and sources of novel genetic material for plants.
  • The colonization of land and subsequent diversification of plants involved the strategic exploitation of microbial resources.