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Are viruses driving microbial diversification and diversity?
Author(s) -
Weinbauer Markus G.,
Rassoulzadegan Fereidoun
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1046/j.1462-2920.2003.00539.x
Subject(s) - biology , horizontal gene transfer , genome , gene , evolutionary biology , species richness , diversification (marketing strategy) , genetic diversity , host (biology) , microbial genetics , viral evolution , ecology , genetics , population , demography , marketing , sociology , business
Summary Viruses can influence the genetic diversity of prokaryotes in various ways. They can affect the community composition of prokaryotes by ‘killing the winner’ and keeping in check competitive dominants. This may sustain species richness and the amount of information encoded in genomes. Viruses can also transfer (viral and host) genes between species. Such mechanisms have probably influenced the speciation of prokaryotes. Whole‐genome sequencing has clearly revealed the importance of (virus‐mediated) gene transfer. However, its significance for the ecological performance of aquatic microbial communities is only poorly studied, although the few available reports indicate a large potential. Here, we present data supporting the hypothesis that viral genes and viral activity generate genetic variability of prokaryotes and are a driving force for ecological functioning and evolutionary change.