Animal -> bacterial gene transfer seems easier than bacteria -> animal (rotifers

Question

Animal -> bacterial gene transfer seems easier than bacteria -> animal (rotifers are an interesting exception); there are bacteria live in close contact to us but our germ-line cells are protected. Given enough time, even free-living bacteria would start to pick up some of our genes (once the introns were lost).

Is this true? If so, do we see animal/plant genes gradually spreading into single cell organisms as time goes on (although "seeing" this would be difficult)? Is this effect "significant" for evolution in microbes?

Explanation / Answer

This paper seems relevant. I just found it and don't have access, so I haven't read it. It does seem to suggest that there is evidence for eukaryotic genes being taken up by a prokaryote.

I would imagine this is rare, though. Eukaryotic cells don't tend to just spew their genetic material everywhere. Most death pathways involve breaking down any genetic material in the cell, I believe.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects