Molecular Evolution and the Effects of Amelioration in Meloidogyne Incognita

Authors

Adler R. Dillman, Brigham Young University
Dr. Byron J. Adams, Brigham Young University

Keywords

molecular evolution, amelioration, meloidogyne incognita

College

Life Sciences

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Abstract

The process of horizontal or lateral gene transfer involves the movement of genetic information in a lateral fashion from one organism to another, regardless of phylogenetic distance. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major mechanism of prokaryotic evolution while its role in eukaryotic evolution remains undecided, with many claims of genes being laterally transferred from prokaryotes to eukaryotes being subsequently refuted [1,2]. Recently, 12 genes of the plant parasite M. incognita have been proposed as being good candidates of HGT. Because certain rhizobial bacteria occupy a very similar niche both inside and out of the plant, and use many of the same kinds of enzymes to break down the cellulose of plant cell walls, researchers have hypothesized that nematodes could have acquired some of these genes from rhizobial bacteria via HGT. If this sort of transfer occurred it would represent a wholesale acceleration of Darwinian gradualism.

Recommended Citation

Dillman, Adler R. and Adams, Dr. Byron J. (2013) "Molecular Evolution and the Effects of Amelioration in Meloidogyne Incognita," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1227.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1227