Lateral DNA transfer mechanisms and consequences

• Main Author: Bushman, Frederic (Author)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Cold Spring Harbor, NY Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 2002
• Subjects: DNA Transposable Elements; Transformation, Genetic; Retroelements
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.

 Lateral transfer or horizontal transfer of DNA occurs when DNA, through a variety of processes, is moved from one organism to another, becoming fully integrated into the new organism. Bushman (The Salk Institute, California) explains how this happens, the extent to which it happens, and the implications for our understanding the functioning of DNA in a number of processes, from evolution to pathologies. Chapters cover the mechanisms of lateral transfer on a molecular basis, with attention paid to transfer mechanisms between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, as well as those between species that belong to divergent phylogenetic taxa. As the work is devoted to natural mechanisms, technological applications are not treated in detail, although some discussion is included outside the main body of the text. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)