16.2 Bacterial and Archaeal Genomes (pages 321-324)
Species of bacteria and archaea are usually targeted for whole-genome sequencing because they cause disease or have
interesting metabolic abilities. In these groups, a general correlation seems to exist between the size of an organism's
genome and its complexity. Parasites tend to have small genomes; organisms that live in a broad array of habitats or that
use a wide variety of nutrients tend to have larger genomes. Many of the genes identified in bacteria and archaea still
have no known function, however, and a significant percentage of them are extremely similar to other genes in the same
genome. Another generalization about prokaryotic genomes is that genes are frequently transferred laterally, or between
species. Lateral transfer appears to be common in genes responsible for causing disease.
Research Links
Summary Review
Biological Science, Chapter 16, Genomes
