The advantages and disadvantages of horizontal gene transfer and the emergence of the first species |
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Authors: | Aaron A Vogan and Paul G Higgs |
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Institution: | (1) Origins Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8 S 4M1, Canada |
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Abstract: | Background Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) is beneficial to a cell if the acquired gene confers a useful function, but is detrimental
if the gene has no function, if it is incompatible with existing genes, or if it is a selfishly replicating mobile element.
If the balance of these effects is beneficial on average, we would expect cells to evolve high rates of acceptance of horizontally
transferred genes, whereas if it is detrimental, cells should reduce the rate of HGT as far as possible. It has been proposed
that the rate of HGT was very high in the early stages of prokaryotic evolution, and hence there were no separate lineages
of organisms. Only when the HGT rate began to fall, would lineages begin to emerge with their own distinct sets of genes.
Evolution would then become more tree-like. This phenomenon has been called the Darwinian Threshold. |
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