A matter of priorities: Bacteria evolved way to safeguard crucial genetic material
Monday, April 23, 2012 - 16:13
in Biology & Nature
Just as banks store away only the most valuable possessions in the most secure safes, cells prioritize which genes they guard most closely, researchers have found. The study shows that bacteria have evolved a mechanism that protects important genes from random mutation, effectively reducing the risk of self-destruction. The findings answer a question that has been under debate for half a century and provide insights into how disease-causing mutations arise and pathogens evolve.