%0 Journal Article
%T Horizontal Gene Transfer and Its Part in the Reorganisation of Genetics during the LUCA Epoch
%A Sohan Jheeta
%J Life
%D 2013
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/life3040518
%X Currently there are five known mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer (HGT): transduction, conjugation, transformation, gene transfer agents and membrane vesicle transfer. The question here is: what part did HGT play in the reorganisation of genetics during the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) epoch? LUCA is a construct to explain the origin of the three domains of life; namely Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya. This editorial offers a general introduction to the relevance and ultimate significance of HGT in relation to the LUCA.
%K Horizontal gene transfer
%K lateral gene transfer
%K phylogenetic reconstruction transformation
%K transduction
%K conjugation
%K gene transfer agent (GTA)
%K membrane vesicle transfer (MVT)
%K phylogenetic tree of life
%K origin of life
%K last universal common ancestor (LUCA)
%U http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/3/4/518