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Molecular Biology and Bacterial Phylogeny

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Evolutionary Biology

Abstract

The present day microorganisms are the result of complex evolutionary processes. If these events were known, a three- or multidimensional phylogenetic tree could be constructed with time as one of the axes. Its transverse section with the plane of the present day moment would provide us with a phylogenetic classification. Bacterial classification is mainly built on morphological, physiological, and biochemical features. When many of these data are compared by numerical (or Adansonian) analysis, they provide a fair picture of the degree of relatedness of many bacteria. However, it is nearly impossible to project this picture back into the past because numerical taxonomy covers at most some 20 percent of the bacterial genome, and orthodox bacterial taxonomy covers even less. Furthermore, paleontological, embryological, and comparative anatomical data are lacking for bacteria. Therefore, the evolutionary tree of bacteria remains largely invisible, if one uses only phenotypic features.

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Abbreviations

DNA:

deoxyribonucleic acid

RNA:

ribonucleic acid

A:

adenine

T:

thymine

G:

guanine

C:

cytosine

percent GC:

average molar percent guanine + cytosine

UV:

ultraviolet light

hµ:

radiant energy

NAD and NADH:

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and reduced form

NADP and NADPH:

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and reduced form

ATP:

adenosine triphosphate

G6P:

glucose-6-phosphate

6PG:

gluconate-6-phosphate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, State University, Gent, Belgium

    J. De Ley

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  1. J. De Ley
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of California, Davis, California, USA

    Theodosius Dobzhansky

  2. Queens College, Flushing, New York, USA

    Max K. Hecht

  3. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York, USA

    William C. Steere

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De Ley, J. (1968). Molecular Biology and Bacterial Phylogeny. In: Dobzhansky, T., Hecht, M.K., Steere, W.C. (eds) Evolutionary Biology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8094-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8094-8_3

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