Evolution: Partial penetrance keeps the options open.

van Ooij, Christiaan

The article reports on the findings a microbiology study conducted by a team of researchers which show that mutations with partial penetrance can enable a gradual transition between to phenotypes. In this study, researchers noticed that mutations that alter the timing or levels of expression of spoIIR result in partial penetrance. They also found that bacillus subtilis cells that harbour such mutations display a range of phenotypes including normal sporulation.

MICROBIOLOGY; MICROBIAL mutation; PHENOTYPES; GENE expression; BACILLUS subtilis

Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2009, Vol 7, Issue 9, p617

1740-1526

Academic Journal

10.1038/nrmicro2207