Evolution of Symbiotic Bacteria in the Distal Human Intestine
2007
Evolution of Symbiotic Bacteria in the Distal Human Intestine
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Jian Xu, Michael Mahowald, Jeffrey Gordon
Hypothesis
How has the intestinal environment shaped the evolution of the genomes of bacteria in the human gut?
Conclusion
The study shows that microbes in the human gut gain genetic diversity necessary for adaptation from other microbes.
Supporting Evidence
- The researchers sequenced the genomes of two divergent human gut-derived Bacteroidetes species.
- Many genes unique to gut Bacteroidetes function in pathways for polysaccharide metabolism.
- About 5% of the genes in each genome were acquired laterally from other species.
Takeaway
Bacteria in our gut need to be diverse to survive, and they get this diversity by sharing genes with each other.
Methodology
The researchers sequenced the genomes of two bacterial species in the human lower intestine and analyzed their genetic features.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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