Comparative analysis of genome sequences is leading to discovery of large numbers of novel molecular markers that are proving very helpful in understanding many important aspects of microbial phylogeny. Of these molecular markers, the conserved inserts or deletions (indels) in protein sequences provide particularly useful means for identifying different groups of microbes in clear molecular terms and for understanding how they have branched off from a common ancestor. Conserved indels and other novel molecular markers (viz. lineage-specific proteins) can be useful for understanding microbial phylogeny at different phylogenetic depths. Genetic and biochemical studies of these markers should also lead to identification of novel properties that are unique to different groups of microbes read more ...

from Molecular Phylogeny of Microorganisms by Aharon Oren and R. Thane Papke (2010)

References

• Molecular Phylogeny of Microorganisms
• Lab-on-a-Chip Technology
• Real-Time PCR: Current Technology and Applications
• Environmental Molecular Microbiology
• Metagenomics

Labels: Conserved indels, Conserved inserts or deletions, Groups of microbes, Indels, Lineage-specific proteins, Microbial phylogeny, Molecular markers, Phylogenetic depths