Explaining microbial genomic diversity in light of evolutionary ecology

• Published in: Nature reviews. Microbiology Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 263 - 273
• Main Authors: Cordero, Otto X., Polz, Martin F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.04.2014; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/326/2565/855; 631/326/325; 631/326/41/2529; 631/326/41/2535; Archaea; Archaea - growth & development; Archaea - metabolism; Archaea - physiology; Bacteria; Bacteria - growth & development; Bacteria - metabolism; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Biodiversity; Biological diversity; Biological Evolution; Ecology; Ecosystem; Environmental aspects; Gene flow; Genes; Genetic Variation; Genomes; Genomics; Infectious Diseases; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbial colonies; Microbial Interactions; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Parasitology; Population biology; Population dynamics; review-article; Selection, Genetic; Virology; United States > US; Massachusetts
• ISSN: 1740-1526; 1740-1534; 1740-1534
• DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3218

Key Points Surveys of closely related bacteria and archaea reveal that they have a high degree of genomic diversity, which manifests as single-nucleotide polymorphisms and gene-content variation. To meaningfully interpret the underlying causes of such diversity, it is necessary to clearly define pop...