Single gene mutation can sweep through bacterial population, opening the door for the concept of 'species'
Thursday, April 5, 2012 - 13:00
in Biology & Nature
Bacteria are the most populous organisms on the planet. They thrive in almost every known environment, adapting to different habitats by means of genetic variations that provide the capabilities essential for survival. These genetic innovations arise from what scientists believe is a random mutation and exchange of genes and other bits of DNA among bacteria that sometimes confers an advantage, and which then becomes an intrinsic part of the genome.