Defining Ecotype Via Analysis Of Ecological Speciation Within A Subspecies Of Bacillus Subtilis

By using DNA sequencing software and using comparative DNA alignment programs, scientists can piece together where the differences and similarities align and the percentage of identical DNA between two species. Another method of classifying these gene-swapping organisms is to alter the method of vertical genomics and shift to a new form of lateral genomics (Koonin et al. 2001). A method using vertical, linear genomics alone will not provide enough resources to clearly assign an organism to a taxonomic group. Also, scientists can look at gene loss over time as a method to group these organisms (Koonin et al. 2001). If scientists would rather stick with similarities to define a taxonomic group, the use of genomic instruments can provide a better picture of which genes are highly conserved between organisms of the same group (Doolittle 1999). Researchers have begun to employ this method as the means for best completing a phylogenetic tree. Using alignments of single copy genes conserved in the genome allows for scientists to achieve that vertical pattern of phylogeny that can be lost when focusing on the amount of transferred genes between groups (Lang et al. 2013).

Evolution: the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.

A species is certain kind of animal, plant, fungus or other organism. Which is a group of individual that are part of interbreed in nature, it is the largest gene pool under a natural condition. It is when a pair of organisms produce and offspring in nature and both parents need to belong to same species. This definition does not include many types of bacteria which are capable to asexual reproduction. Another difficult way of understanding would be like for example a cat species are capable of hybridizing such as a lion and a tiger who mate and produce a liger as well as a cross between a male jaguar and female lion which produce a jaglion. Species are formed through a process called speciation and this happens when lineage of single splits into to two or more separate species, this is how new species are created.

Evolution rarely follows a straight line from species to species. Instead, evolution is more like a growing tree. This tree is called a phylogenetic tree, phylo meaning race, and genetic meaning genes and heredity. As this tree continues to thrive, more branches begin to grow and other branches begin to die. Once a branch dies, no new branches can grow from it because the branch represents a species and when a species dies, the species cannot evolve into subspecies. Due to this, species do change over time because species compete for limited resources, new adaptations can be passed to the next generation, and the environment changes all the time. These are all proven by numerous types of evidence that are found over a period of time.

This assignment reviews two papers. The first one is a fun review paper titled “Life in a World without Microbes” by Gilbert and Neufeld (2014). The first 5 questions comes from this paper. The second paper is a more scientific review titled “Microbes Drive Evolution of Animals and Plants: the Hologenome Concept” by Ronsenberg and Zilber-Rosenberg. Remember to answer the question clearly and in your own words. Make sure you answer all parts of the question. Do not use direct quotes from the paper as I want you to interpret and put all information into your own words. Do not share answers with classmates. Your answers should be typed.

The biological findings of Charles Darwin contributed to revolutionizing modern understanding of evolution and genetics through the comparison of biodiversity and the trending similarities and differences among members of shared lineage. Darwin's observation of how the environment impacted the evolution of species as they adapted to their surroundings led to the understanding of how new environments may influence new divergent characteristics between members of shared ancestry. This scientific study on heredity contributed to a universal understanding of genes, alleles, chromosomes, and the recombination they incur during reproduction. But what

Bacterial symbionts are predominant among organisms that shape the biological world (Hurst 1993, Wernegreen 2004). Some of the bacterial symbionts that have an inordinate influence on the health and evolution of their hosts are those bacteria that live within their symbiotic hosts, so-called endosymbionts. Bacterial endosymbionts are the focus of current research programs by the National Institutes of Health (Human Microbiome Project, http://www.hmpdacc.org/) and the National Science Foundation (The Symbiosis, Defense, and Self-recognition Program).

Species are groups of organisms that share characteristics or have some characteristics that are similar and can successfully interbreed. Species can also be broken down more to include subspecies.

Rogers fails to address the actual definition of a species, which has not yet been plausible; the species concept is debated and overlapping. Rogers clearly states that he does not want to address this issue, only the issue of change within already defined species (p. 6). The definition of a species is context dependent, yet many scientists still attempt to define it in black and white. This debate, although extensive, is an interesting subject in which to gain a new perspective; there is no scientific doubt that species change, but the actual timing of speciation is an ongoing inquiry. The opinion of Alan Rogers would have made a reputable contribution to this debate.

Evolution is a change in genes of a population over time. Speciation is a process of gene changes which cause one population to become 2 unique populations. Speciation can be illustrated using the lemurs of Madagascar as an example. The evolutionary and biogeographic processes experienced by the lemurs are not unusual.

Nature is very much discontinuous, but natural selection acts in a continuous manner, so the hard part is finding out how nature is filled with these discrete and discontinuous groups called species. The common criticism is that the inability to observe the formation of the new species means natural selection is causing it, and the species never actually form, but as Coyne says, “…it’s like saying that because we haven’t seen a single star go through its complete life cycle, stars don’t evolve, or because we haven’t see a new language arise, languages don’t evolve” (183). Just because we aren’t seeing the new species form right away, it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. As stated before, it can take a lot time for a new species to form.

First, species evolve in ways that improve, or at least maintain, their ability to live. Communities, however, do not undergo the same process. No community evolves as a unit. Species may evolve in ways that are mostly influenced by ecology. This means that species evolve by their relationship with one or a few species, which in turn allows the others to evolve as well. Coevolution is commonly described as a change in the genetic composition of one species, or group, in response to a genetic change in another and was coined by Ehrlich and Raven after observing plant-herbivore interactions. Around the same time, Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species, which also spoke of the

Evolution refers to change over time as species modifies and separate to produce several offspring species.

evolutionary changes in different species or “a group of organisms that are very similar to each

Bacteria’s ability to horizontally transfer DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) throughout different species is a key factor in the evolutionary success of these organisms and their survival in extreme environments (Averhoff & Muller, 2010). Horizontal gene transfer allows the organism to gain beneficial genetic sequences which allow for a superior evolutionary capability (Averhoff & Muller, 2010). With the capacity to acquire new traits during a lifespan, microbes are potentially the only organisms able to withstand the extreme environmental conditions that exist in space.