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Horizontal gene transfer: perspectives at a crossroads of scientific disciplines

Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 3, pages 675–678 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has a crucial role in microbial evolution, in shaping the structure and function of microbial communities and in controlling a myriad of environmental and public-health problems. Here, Barth F. Smets and Tamar Barkay assess the importance of HGT and place the selection of articles in this Focus issue in context.

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Figure 1: The 5 steps of horizontal gene flow.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the US National Science Foundation (BES pogramme) and the US Department of Energy (NABIR programme) for support of research on HGT in their laboratories. This article and special issue were inspired by a workshop on 'Horizontal Gene Flow in Microbial Communities' that was co-chaired by the authors in Warrenton, Virginia, USA, in June 2004, and sponsored by the National Science Foundation (MO/MIP programme) and the Department of Energy (NABIR programme). These agencies, as well as the US National Aeronautics and Space Agency (Astrobiology Programme) provided gracious support to the production of this issue.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environment & Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, DK, Denmark

    Barth F. Smets

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, 08901, New Jersey, USA

    Tamar Barkay

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  1. Barth F. Smets
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  2. Tamar Barkay
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Correspondence to Barth F. Smets.

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Smets, B., Barkay, T. Horizontal gene transfer: perspectives at a crossroads of scientific disciplines. Nat Rev Microbiol 3, 675–678 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1253

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