"Pedro"  wrote in message
news:bkjbkt$g11$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org...
> Plasmids generally contain genes that confer a selective
advantage to
> their bacterial hosts through antibiotic resistance or
virulence
> factors. However, despite these advantages,plasmid
transfer rates are
> normaly very low due to segregation and fitness costs to
their hosts;
> too low to account for their widespread existence.

What does "widespread" mean here? Is there really any
objective measure of existence relative to other lifeforms?
This sounds like a very subjective thing wrt prerequisite
characteristics/
conditions for specific examples (i.e., is this a semantics
problem?)        ...tonyC 

> I would like to hear from anyone who has any insight into
this matter.
> There are some reported cases where evolved plasmids
introduced into
> bacteria have increased their fitness almost two-fold.
>
> Any information would be much apreciated
>
> Best regards,
> Pedro Vale
>
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