Lecture 4 - Microbial evolution Flashcards
What are the difference between taxonomy and phylogeny. Which is more accurate?
Taxonomy is the science of defining groups of biological organisms on the basis of shared characteristics. Whereas, phylogeny is the study of evolutionary relationships and constructing family trees of the origin of ancestral groups. It is conducted through sequencing of SSU rRNA.
Phylogeny is more accurate as it study the sequence
Describe how bacteria can evolve through adaptive radiation:
Two main key aspects for evolutionary drive is genetic diversity (mutation) and selective pressure. These two aspects lead to evolution.
What is lateral gene transfer does it increase genetic diversity?
Lateral gene transfer is the transmission of genes between individual cells. This includes transformation, transduction and conjugation. Transformation is the transfer of naked DNA between bacteria, transduction: movement of genes via bacteriophages and conjugation involves movement of plasmids through Pili.
When studying bacterial evolution what do we compare and why?
When studying bacterial evolution we compare the SSU rRNA ribosomal unit. This is consistent within all micro-organisms hence it can be studied. The variation across several evolutionary districts is also significant enough that can be measured.
Describe the importance of plasmids in genetic diversity
Plasmids are double stranded circular DNA independent of the nucleoid and chromosomal replication. They replicate autonomously and encode for non-essential functions this may include: Changing metabolic pathways for survival, Cause bacteria → pathogenic etc. Mainly transferred through conjugation.
