The evolutionary value of recombination is constrained by genome modularity

Genetic recombination is a fundamental evolutionary mechanism promoting biological adaptation. Using engineered recombinants of the small single-stranded DNA plant virus, Maize streak virus (MSV), we experimentally demonstrate that fragments of genetic material only function optimally if they reside...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS genetics 2005-10, Vol.1 (4), p.e51-e51
Main Authors: Martin, Darren P, van der Walt, Eric, Posada, David, Rybicki, Edward P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioinformatics - Computational Biology
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA repair
Evolution
Evolution, Molecular
Experiments
Genes
Genetic engineering
Genome
Genome, Viral
Genomes
Hypotheses
Maize streak virus
Maize streak virus - genetics
Models, Biological
Models, Genetic
Molecular Sequence Data
Recombination, Genetic
Virology
Viruses
Zea mays - genetics
Zea mays - virology
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Summary:Genetic recombination is a fundamental evolutionary mechanism promoting biological adaptation. Using engineered recombinants of the small single-stranded DNA plant virus, Maize streak virus (MSV), we experimentally demonstrate that fragments of genetic material only function optimally if they reside within genomes similar to those in which they evolved. The degree of similarity necessary for optimal functionality is correlated with the complexity of intragenomic interaction networks within which genome fragments must function. There is a striking correlation between our experimental results and the types of MSV recombinants that are detectable in nature, indicating that obligatory maintenance of intragenome interaction networks strongly constrains the evolutionary value of recombination for this virus and probably for genomes in general.
ISSN:1553-7404
1553-7390
1553-7404
DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.0010051