Related Experiment Videos
Phylogenetic analysis supports horizontal transfer of P transposable elements
J B Clark1, W P Maddison, M G Kidwell
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
Molecular Biology and Evolution
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Transposable elements, known as P elements, show a different evolutionary path than their host species in Diptera. This suggests horizontal gene transfer may have occurred at least three times.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- P transposable elements are mobile genetic sequences found in various organisms.
- Understanding their evolution is crucial for comprehending genome dynamics and speciation.
- Horizontal transfer is a known mechanism for gene dissemination across species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary history of P transposable elements in Diptera.
- To determine if horizontal transfer has influenced the distribution of P elements in natural populations.
- To compare the phylogenetic relationships of P elements with those of their host species.
Main Methods:
- Nucleotide sequence comparisons of P elements from eight dipteran taxa.
- Phylogenetic analysis using published and newly acquired sequences.
- Comparative analysis of P element phylogeny against species phylogeny.
Main Results:
- The P-element phylogeny significantly contradicts the established phylogeny of the host species.
- Phylogenetic analyses yielded consistent results across different methods.
- At least three independent horizontal transfer events are required to explain the observed incongruence.
Conclusions:
- Horizontal transfer likely played a significant role in the evolution and distribution of P elements in Diptera.
- The findings challenge simple vertical inheritance models for these transposable elements.
- Further research is needed to rule out alternative explanations for the observed phylogenetic discordance.