Microbial Evolution

About this book

Bacteria are ancient organisms that represent most life on Earth. They evolve extremely rapidly, often exchanging genetic material through a process termed lateral DNA transfer. Consequently it's often unclear how to define individual species and phylogenetic trees. Microbial Evolution examines our understanding of bacterial evolution. Focusing on how genomics is revolutionizing our approach to studying these organisms.

Topics include:
- Epidemiological genetics
- Evolution of new functions de novo and from pre-existing genes
- How microbial genes evolve
- Mutation – the Engine of Evolution: Studying Mutation and Its Role in the Evolution of Bacterial
- Paleobiological Perspectives on Early Microbial Evolution
- The Evolution of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli
- Co-Evolution of the Organization and Structure of Prokaryotic Genomes

Contents

Preface

Realizing Microbial Evolution
    Howard Ochman
Early Microbial Evolution: The Age of Anaerobes
    William F. Martin and Filipa L. Sousa
Paleobiological Perspectives on Early Microbial Evolution
    Andrew H. Knoll
Horizontal Gene Transfer and the History of Life
    Vincent Daubin and Gergely J. Szöllősi
Genome-Based Microbial Taxonomy Coming of Age
    Philip Hugenholtz, Adam Skarshewski, and Donovan H. Parks
Mutation—The Engine of Evolution: Studying Mutation and Its Role in the Evolution of Bacteria
    Ruth Hershberg
Thoughts Toward a Theory of Natural Selection: The Importance of Microbial Experimental Evolution
    Daniel Dykhuizen
The Origin of Mutants Under Selection: How Natural Selection Mimics Mutagenesis (Adaptive Mutation)
    Sophie Maisnier-Patin and John R. Roth
Not So Simple After All: Bacteria, Their Population Genetics, and Recombination
    William P. Hanage
Microbial Speciation
    B. Jesse Shapiro and Martin F. Polz
The Evolution of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli
    Samuel K. Sheppard and Martin C.J. Maiden
Evolution of New Functions De Novo and from Preexisting Genes
    Dan I. Andersson, Jon Jerlström-Hultqvist, and Joakim Näsvall
Coevolution of the Organization and Structure of Prokaryotic Genomes
    Marie Touchon and Eduardo P.C. Rocha

Index

Customer Reviews