Detecting Horizontally Transferred Genes
Author Information
Author(s): Maria S. Poptsova, J. Peter Gogarten
Primary Institution: University of Connecticut
Hypothesis
Does horizontal gene transfer impact phylogenetic reconstruction of the evolutionary history of genomes and organisms?
Conclusion
Most analyses of gene transfers remain anecdotal, and the method and significance level to identify potential gene transfer events represent a trade-off between false positives and the power to detect actual transfer events.
Supporting Evidence
- The AU test detects 90.3% of transfers at a 5% significance level.
- Using bipartition spectra, the power of detection was on average 97% with a 70% cut-off.
- The rate of false positives was below 4.2% for the two cut-offs tested.
Takeaway
Scientists are trying to figure out how genes can jump from one organism to another, which helps them understand evolution better.
Methodology
The study used in silico transfers between terminal branches of a gamma proteobacterial phylogeny to test the efficiency of different phylogenetic detection methods.
Potential Biases
The choice of the best tree for analysis may introduce bias, as many trees are not significantly different from each other.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize beyond the specific dataset of gamma proteobacteria used.
Participant Demographics
Thirteen complete genomes from gamma-proteobacteria were analyzed.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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