Ecological and temporal constraints in the evolution of bacterial genomes

Abstract

Studies on experimental evolution of microorganisms, on their in vivo evolution (mainly in the case of bacteria producing chronic infections) as well as the availability of multiple full genomic sequences are placing bacteria in the playground of evolutionary studies. This review focuses on the study of the relative contribution of processes as gene modification, gene acquisition and gene loss at the evolution of bacterial genomes in different ecological scenarios. In particular, we review how the different processes contribute to evolution in microbial communities, in free-living bacteria or for bacteria living in isolation. In addition, we discuss the temporal constraints in the evolution of bacterial genomes, considering bacterial evolution from the perspective of processes of short-sighted evolution and punctual acquisition of evolutionary novelties followed by long stasis periods.