The intertwined evolutionary histories of marine Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus
J. Peter Gogarten, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut.
Currently, Fulbright Fellow and Visiting Professor, The Edmond J. Safra Bioinformatics Program,
Tel-Aviv University
Abstract:
The presentation will discuss phylogenetic approaches to detect horizontal gene transfer
events with a focus on bipartition and quartet decomposition analysis. The advantages of
quartet decomposition using embedded quartets will be discussed and illustrated in an analysis
of Prochlorococcus and marine Synecchococcus genomes. Quartet decomposition allows
identification of the plurality phylogenetic consensus, of gene families that conflict
with this plurality, and of gene families whose phylogeny agrees more with geographical
or physiological gradients than with the plurality signal.