The Tree of Life Gets Complicated

 Horizontal Gene Transfer


HGT is the transferring of genetic material from one organism to another is ways OTHER than vertically or parent to offspring. This gene transfer method is typically used by prokaryotes more than eukaryotes and results in about 2% of the transfer of genome (Horizontal Gene Transfer, 2020). 

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Figure: This illustration depicts how HGT can occur across very different species.


An example of horizontal gene transfer is in Staphylococcus Aureus. Beta Lactams and tetracycline are fed to animals and horizontal gene transfer takes place into the S. Aureus strain causing it to have a resistence to Methicillin. Horizontal gene transfer occurs through S. Aureus through conjugation, transformation, and transduction. This strain is called methicillin-resistant strain CC398.

Characterization of tetracycline and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in a Spanish hospital: Is livestock-contact a risk factor in infections caused by MRSA CC398? - ScienceDirect



https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4536854/

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_General_Biology_(Boundless)/20%3A_Phylogenies_and_the_History_of_Life/20.3%3A_Perspectives_on_the_Phylogenetic_Tree/20.3B%3A_Horizontal_Gene_Transfer

https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/7/3/110/htm

Comments

  1. Cassidy VaughnSeptember 3, 2020 at 10:54 PM

    Hi Peyton,
    Your example is really neat. I also talked about horizontal gene transfer and find it really interesting, as I had never heard of it before. I think it is amazing that such a small thing like a cell can do so much and go through horizontal gene transfer and end up becoming resistant to a medication.

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  2. Abbi MeekSeptember 8, 2020 at 11:18 PM

    Hey Peyton,

    I really liked your images and examples given for HGT. The concept is still kind of new but your post helped break it down into simple terms well. good job

    ReplyDelete

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