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Horizontal Gene Transfer

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Invertebrate Bacteriology

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Abstract

Processes leading to the acquisition of one or more genes from a different species are reviewed for bacteria and metazoans. Evolutionary benefits related to different categories of transferred genes through acquisition and insertion mechanisms are discussed. Gene expression, prevalence and frequency of gene transfer are reviewed, together with the dimensions of insertions and their evolutionary consequences.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    COG = Clusters of orthologous groups, based on genes coding proteins with the same or highly similar functions, proceeding from at least three lineages. See NCBI site http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/COG/

  2. 2.

    Methylation = a process in which methyl groups (-CH3) are linked to nucleotides in a DNA region, leading to the inactivation of its genes . Part of the epigenetic mechanisms that cells use to downregulate gene expression . See Chap. 1.

  3. 3.

    Pseudogenes = a sequence structurally similar to a gene but not functional, having lost its expression and protein coding capacities.

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  1. Sustainable Plant Protection Institute, National Research Council, Bari, Italy

    Aurelio Ciancio

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Ciancio, A. (2016). Horizontal Gene Transfer. In: Invertebrate Bacteriology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0884-3_8

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