Extreme genome reduction in symbiotic bacteria
McCutcheon JP, Moran NA · Nature Reviews Microbiology 2011
Review
Key finding
Bacteria in stable symbioses shed genes for functions their partner provides and can no longer live independently.
In plain language
Reviews how bacteria in long-term host partnerships lose large parts of their genomes, keeping only what the partnership does not already supply.
How much weight this carries
Repeatedly demonstrated, with agreement across independent groups.
Cite or read it
McCutcheon JP, Moran NA (2011). Extreme genome reduction in symbiotic bacteria. Nature Reviews Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2670