Book Summary:
The fluidity of an organism's DNA is under appreciated. Surprisingly often, DNA is transferred from one organism to another, to become stably incorporated and permanently change the recipient's genetic composition. This process is called "lateral" or "horizontal" transfer, in contrast with the "vertical" inheritance of genes by parental descent. This is a book about how lateral transfer occurs, the extent to which it happens, and its implications for our understanding of biology. Whole genome sequencing has begun to reveal an extensive role for lateral DNA transfer in genome evolution. The molecular machinery used to transfer DNA is coming into focus and the transfer process is now known to be at work in the emergence of new infections that threaten human populations. This well-illustrated volume contains an up-to-date account of a topic now seen as increasingly important, and will be invaluable for both working scientists and as a textbook for advanced courses. |