title: Gene transfer, speciation, and the evolution of bacterial genomes.
abstract: Studies in microbial evolution have focused on the origin and vertical transmission of genetic variation within populations experiencing limited recombination. Genomic analyses have highlighted the importance of horizontal genetic transfer in shaping the composition of microbial genomes, providing novel metabolic capabilities, and catalyzing the diversification of bacterial lineages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D009154:Mutation; D013045:Species Specificity; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial