What is the rate of HGT in nature?
The rate of HGT is relatively low when compared to the numerous opportunities for it to occur. Certain bacteria species are able to transfer genes through a mechanism called conjugation. The mechanism, the most successful of three that exist in nature, involves direct physical contact between cells. Under simulated natural conditions, using bacteria in the same species, scientists estimate that only one bacterial cell in approximately 100 million to one billion cells will successfully cross conjugate. HGT involving higher organisms, which occurs significantly less often, is most likely to occur via transformation. Transformation is a much less effective HGT mechanism and involves the direct uptake of DNA from the environment.
