A rooted phylogeny resolves early bacterial evolution
Top Cited Papers
- 7 May 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 372 (6542), 588-+
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abe0511
Abstract
A rooted bacterial tree is necessary to understand early evolution, but the position of the root is contested. Here, we model the evolution of 11,272 gene families to identify the root, extent of horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and the nature of the last bacterial common ancestor (LBCA). Our analyses root the tree between the major clades Terrabacteria and Gracilicutes and suggest that LBCA was a free-living flagellated, rod-shaped double-membraned organism. Contrary to recent proposals, our analyses reject a basal placement of the Candidate Phyla Radiation, which instead branches sister to Chloroflexota within Terrabacteria. While most gene families (92%) have evidence of HGT, overall, two-thirds of gene transmissions have been vertical, suggesting that a rooted tree provides a meaningful frame of reference for interpreting bacterial evolution.Keywords
Funding Information
- Golfers Against Cancer
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (714774)
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (15-2016)
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (00057)
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (GINOP-2.3.2)
- H2020 European Research Council (714774)
- H2020 European Research Council (GINOP-2.3.2.-15-2016-00057)
- Anatomical Society
- National Eye Research Centre (NE/P00251X/1)
- Vetenskapsrådet (2016-03559)
- Australian Antarctic Division (FL150100038)
- Australian Antarctic Division
- Australian Research Council (FL150100038)
- Royal Society (UF140626)
- Royal Society (RG150661)
- Swedish Research Council Formas (2016-03559)
- Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (WISE)
- Australian Research Council (FL150100038)
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