Question
Define horizontal gene transfer. What problems does it cause for evolutionary biologists?
Answer
Horizontal gene transfer, also called lateral gene transfer, is the transmission of genetic information across species boundaries. Horizontal gene transfer takes place frequently in bacteria, through transformation and phage-mediated transduction. In eukaryotes, horizontal gene transfer may take place through endosymbiosis (e.g., mitochondrial and chloroplast genes), viral infections, parasitic infections, and human intervention (genetic engineering). Horizontal gene transfers create problems in the construction of evolutionary relationships with the use of molecular sequence data because the evolutionary history of horizontally transferred genes differs from the evolutionary history of other genes.
Define horizontal gene transfer. What problems does it cause for evolutionary biologists?
Answer
Horizontal gene transfer, also called lateral gene transfer, is the transmission of genetic information across species boundaries. Horizontal gene transfer takes place frequently in bacteria, through transformation and phage-mediated transduction. In eukaryotes, horizontal gene transfer may take place through endosymbiosis (e.g., mitochondrial and chloroplast genes), viral infections, parasitic infections, and human intervention (genetic engineering). Horizontal gene transfers create problems in the construction of evolutionary relationships with the use of molecular sequence data because the evolutionary history of horizontally transferred genes differs from the evolutionary history of other genes.
