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Article
Open AccessIdentifying and tracking mobile elements in evolving compost communities yields insights into the nanobiome
Microbial evolution is driven by rapid changes in gene content mediated by horizontal gene transfer (HGT). While mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are important drivers of gene flux, the nanobiome—the zoo of Darw...
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Article
Open AccessNutrition or nature: using elementary flux modes to disentangle the complex forces sha** prokaryote pan-genomes
Microbial pan-genomes are shaped by a complex combination of stochastic and deterministic forces. Even closely related genomes exhibit extensive variation in their gene content. Understanding what drives this ...
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Article
Open AccessCan mobile genetic elements rescue genes from extinction?
Bacteria and other prokaryotes evolve primarily through rapid changes in their gene content by quickly losing and gaining genes whenever an ecological opportunity emerges. As gene loss and horizontal gene tran...
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Article
Open AccessContingent evolution of alternative metabolic network topologies determines whether cross-feeding evolves
Metabolic exchange is widespread in natural microbial communities and an important driver of ecosystem structure and diversity, yet it remains unclear what determines whether microbes evolve division of labor ...
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Article
Open AccessTrusting the hand that feeds: microbes evolve to anticipate a serial transfer protocol as individuals or collectives
Experimental evolution of microbes often involves a serial transfer protocol, where microbes are repeatedly diluted by transfer to a fresh medium, starting a new growth cycle. This has revealed that evolution ...
