Genetic Exchange Within and Between Species of Bacteria

关于自然种群中基因的基本问题 free.living属>芽孢杆菌属>中的土壤细菌通过以下方式解决： 这些研究。 问题包括：基因量 自然界中存在的变异性;基因的交换是否 细菌细胞之间是常见的;以及野生细菌是否 种群几乎完全由独立繁殖的 克隆，细胞之间没有基因的横向交换， 不同的克隆人 许多细菌在不同的细菌之间交换基因 细胞，交换过程类似于我们熟悉的 动植物的繁殖。 几种不同机制 的“性”是众所周知的细菌;一个是众所周知的， “转变”。 当一种类型的DNA 的细胞穿过环境， 另一个细胞并插入受体细胞的DNA中。 因此 基因交换发生，受体细胞获得新的 生物学特性 例如，受体细胞可以 获得一种基因，使其能够从新的来源获得能量 或者它可能获得了一种基因 对邻居产生的天然抗生素有抵抗力， 不同类型的细菌或真菌。 交流， 影响自然界中成百上千的细菌功能 是可能的。 了解遗传变异性和数量 细菌群体的基因重组将允许 预测这些人口的能力，以改变 他们的环境。自然种群中的基因交换 细菌的繁殖既有有益的影响，也有有害的影响。 基因 使土壤细菌种群适应不断变化的 条件可以传播和更好地适应这些有益的 有机体在营养物质向植物输送中的作用。 然而，导致植物疾病的基因也可以传播。 例如，动物和人类的自然致病基因 炭疽病是由>芽孢杆菌>，可以想象， 在野生菌群中移动。 因此， 完全了解基因在体内是如何以及何时移动的， 细菌种群

Basic questions concerning genes in natural populations of free.living soil bacteria in the genus >Bacillus> are addressed by these studies. Questions include: the amount of genetic variability present in nature; whether the exchange of genes between bacterial cells is common; and whether wild bacterial populations consist almost entirely of independently multiplying clones, with no lateral exchange of genes between cells of different clones. Many bacteria exchange genes between different bacterial cells, processes of exchange akin to the familiar sort of sexual reproduction of animals and plants. Several different mechanisms of "sexuality" are known for bacteria; one is known as "transformation". Transformation occurs when the DNA of one type of cell passes through the environment and is picked up by another cell and inserted into the recipient cell's DNA. Thus a genetic exchange occurs and the recipient cell acquires new biological properties. For example, the recipient cell may acquire a gene which allows it to obtain energy from a new source in its environment, or it may acquire a gene which makes it resistant to a natural antibiotic produced by a neighboring and different type of bacteria or a fungus. Exchanges which influence hundreds or thousands of bacterial functions in nature are possible. An understanding of the genetic variability and amounts of genetic recombination of bacterial populations will allow prediction of the abilities of these populations to change in their environments. The exchange of genes in natural populations of bacteria can have both beneficial and harmful effects. Genes which adapt soil bacterial populations to changing agricultural conditions can spread and better adapt these beneficial organisms to their role in the movement of nutrients to plants. However, genes which cause plant diseases could also be spread. Naturally pathogenic genes for animals and humans, for example anthrax disease which is produced by >Bacillus>, could conceivably move around in wild bacterial populations. Thus it is important to understand completely how and when genes move around in bacterial populations.