Rhizomal Reclassification of Living Organisms

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Didier Raoult¹  Philippe Colson¹  Rita Zgheib¹  Ahmad Ibrahim¹  Mohamad Maatouk¹  Sabrina Naud¹  Vicky Merhej¹  Fadi Bittar¹ 

[1] IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France;

关键词: evolution;    tree of life;    sequences transfer;    reclassification;    lifestyle;    rhizome;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms22115643

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Living organisms interact with each other during their lifetime, leading to genomes rearrangement and sequences transfer. These well-known phenomena give these organisms mosaic genomes, which challenge their classification. Moreover, many findings occurred between the IXXth and XXIst century, especially the discovery of giant viruses and candidate phyla radiation (CPR). Here, we tried to provide an updated classification, which integrates 216 representative genomes of the current described organisms. The reclassification was expressed through a genetic network based on the total genomic content, not on a single gene to represent the tree of life. This rhizomal exploration represents, more accurately, the evolutionary relationships among the studied species. Our analyses show a separated branch named fifth TRUC (Things Resisting Uncompleted Classifications). This taxon groups CPRs together, independently from Bacteria, Archaea (which regrouped also Nanoarchaeota and Asgard members), Eukarya, and the giant viruses (recognized recently as fourth TRUC). Finally, the broadening of analysis methods will lead to the discovery of new organisms, which justify the importance of updating the classification at every opportunity. In this perspective, our pragmatic representation could be adjusted along with the progress of evolutionary studies.

【 授权许可】

Unknown