Symbiont genes in host genomes: fragments with a future?
While lateral transfer is the rule in the evolutionary history of bacterial and archaeal genes, events of transfer from prokaryotes to eukaryotes are rare. Germline-transmitted animal symbionts, such as Wolbachia pipientis, are well placed to participate in such transfers. In a recent issue of Science, Dunning Hotopp et al. identified instances of transfer of Wolbachia DNA to host genomes. It is unknown whether these transfers represent innovation in animal evolution.
Blaxter
Mark
M
Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, Scotland EH9 3JT, UK. mark.blaxter@ed.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D009348:Nematoda / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000469:parasitology; D013559:Symbiosis; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000502:physiology*