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GENE CHUNKING. “In addition to the transfer of single genes, also the transfer of entire chromosomes has been documented in pathogenic fungi. This typically involves conditionally dispensable chromosomes that are not required for growth, but confer an advantage when colonizing particular ecological niches.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn

CROSS-BARRIER GENE SHARING. “The exchange of genes over species barriers – referred to as horizontal or lateral gene transfer – can play an important role in genome evolution.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn

VARIOUS MECHANISMS. “Several mechanisms can alter the genetic material of eukaryotic species: A: DNA point mutations (stars) can alter single (or few) nucleotides. B: Genetic material can be transferred from a donor lineage over species barriers (dashed line) into the genome of an acceptor lineage. This can either be limited to single genes (horizontal gene transfer) or comprise entire chromosomes (horizontal chromosome transfer). C: Inter- or intra-chromosomal rearrangements can lead to a variety of genomic changes. Double-strand breaks are indicated by red arrows and dashed lines.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn

KEY MECHANISM. “A plethora of processes can create genomic variation in eukaryotes, and we hypothesize that commonly observed chromosomal rearrangements provide a pivotal mechanism to promote adaptation.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn

SUCCESS WITHOUT SEXUAL CYCLE. “Thus, these organisms evolved means to generate genomic diversity and compensate for the apparent lack of sexual reproduction.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn

PERSISTENT ASEXUAL FUNGUS. “Comparative genomics on Verticillium dahliae, a fungal plant pathogen for which a sexual cycle has never been observed, revealed extensive chromosomal rearrangements that establish lineage-specific genomic regions that are responsible for adaptation to plant hosts and evolution of fungal aggressiveness.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn

PROTECTION CAUSES PERSISTENCE. "Lytic viruses were thought to kill the most numerous host (i.e., kill the winner). But persisting viruses/defectives can also protect against viruses, especially in a ubiquitous virosphere. In 1991, Yarmolinsky et al. discovered the addiction modules of P1 phage, in which opposing toxic and protective functions stabilize persistence." https://lnkd.in/dfuhiME View in LinkedIn

PERSISTENT ASEXUAL ROTIFERS. “Bdelloid rotifers are microscopic animals that have persisted for millions of years with an asexual lifestyle, and recent insight in the genome of a bdelloid rotifer confirmed that its genome structure is incompatible with conventional meiosis due to frequent genomic rearrangements.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn

ADDICTION MODULES. "Here, I present a general model for the role such viruses play in the evolution of host symbiosis. By considering how virus mixtures can participate in addiction modules, I provide a functional explanation for persistence of virus derived genetic ‘junk’ in their host genomic habitats." https://lnkd.in/d64vzSy View in LinkedIn

ASEXUALITY IS NOT A HANDICAP. “However, several recent observations challenge this view, since some organisms appear to be successful in the absence of sexual reproduction.” https://lnkd.in/eC8eb-V View in LinkedIn