[Symbiogenesis and Synthetic Evolutionary Theory: The Third Synthesis]

Genetika. 2015 Jun;51(6):658-67.
[Article in Russian]

Abstract

Integration of the concepts of symbiogenesis and synthetic evolutionary theory is the main path for the development of evolutionary biology. It is based on the analysis of cooperative adaptations that evolve under the impact of symbiotic-specific selective pressures responsible for the formation of super-species hereditary systems--metagenomes, symbiogenomes, and hologenomes. The genetic integration of nonrelated organisms (symbiogenesis) is determined by the inheritance of microsymbionts by hosts resulted in the complication of mutualistic interactions according to the scheme: pleiotropic symbiosis --> mutual partner's exploitation --> interspecies altruism. This evolution may result in the loss of genetic individuality in microsymbionts; this loss is expressed as a deep reduction in their genomes. A significant number of these may be exported to the host, resulting in the transformation of symbiotic systems into novel, genetically integral organisms.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Genome, Plant*
  • Rhizobium / genetics
  • Symbiosis / genetics*