Phylogenomic analyses of archaeal genome sequences are providing windows into the
group's evolutionary past, even though most archaeal taxa lack a conventional fossil record …

Background Archaea represent a significant fraction of Earth's biodiversity, yet they remain
much less well understood than Bacteria. Gene surveys, a few metagenomic studies, and …

The mechanisms that underlie the origin of major prokaryotic groups are poorly understood.
In principle, the origin of both species and higher taxa among prokaryotes should entail …

Assessing the compatibility between gene family phylogenies is a crucial and often
computationally demanding step in many phylogenomic analyses. Here, we describe the …

In a recent article, Nelson-Sathi et al.(NS) report that the origins of major archaeal lineages
(MAL) correspond to massive group-specific gene acquisitions via HGT from bacteria …

The vast majority of environmental bacteria and archaea remain uncultivated, yet their
genome sequences are rapidly becoming available through single cell sequencing …

A root for the archaeal tree is essential for reconstructing the metabolism and ecology of
early cells and for testing hypotheses that propose that the eukaryotic nuclear lineage …

The origins of diversified life remain mysterious despite considerable efforts devoted to
untangling the roots of the universal tree of life. Here we reconstructed phylogenies that …

Background Phylogenetic studies have provided detailed knowledge on the evolutionary
mechanisms of genes and species in Bacteria and Archaea. However, the evolution of …

Background Haloarchaea, a major group of archaea, are able to metabolize sugars and to
live in oxygenated salty environments. Their physiology and lifestyle strongly contrast with …