User:EGS009/Evolution of cells

Horizontal gene transfer
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the movement of genetic information between different organisms of the same species mainly being bacteria. This is not the movement of genetic information between a parent and their offspring but by other factors. In contrast to how animals reproduce and evolve from sexual reproduction, bacteria evolve by sharing DNA with other bacteria or their environment.

There are three common mechanisms of transferring genetic material by HGT:


 * Transformation: The bacteria assimilates DNA from the environment into their own
 * Conjugation: Bacteria directly transfer genes from one cell to another
 * Transduction: Bacteriophages (virus) move genes from one bacterial cell to another

Once one of these mechanisms has occurred the bacteria will continue to multiply and grow resistance and evolve by natural selection. HGT is the main cause of the assimilation of certain genetic material and the passing down of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).