Experimental evolution of yeast shows that public-goods upregulation can evolve despite challenges from exploitative non-producers.

Microbial secretions, such as metabolic enzymes, are often considered to be cooperative public goods as they are costly to produce but can be exploited by others. They create incentives for the evolution of non-producers, which can drive producer and population productivity declines. In response, producers can adjust production levels.

Canonical Host-Pathogen Trade-Offs Subverted by Mutations with Dual Benefits.

AbstractHost-parasite coevolution is expected to drive the evolution of genetic diversity because the traits used in arms races-namely, host range and parasite resistance-are hypothesized to trade off with traits used in resource competition. We therefore tested data for several trade-offs among 93 isolates of bacteriophage λ and 51 genotypes that coevolved during a laboratory experiment. Surprisingly, we found multiple trade-ups (positive trait correlations) but little evidence of several canonical trade-offs.

Why is it so hard to enact responsible change?: Scientists need to work more closely with other social groups to implement sustainable innovation.

Science is key to developing sustainable products and solutions. But scientists also need to work more with governments, industry and society to help implement those solutions.

A Hybrid Sequencing Approach Completes the Genome Sequence of Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus JW 200.

Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus JW 200 has been identified as a potential sustainable biofuel producer due to its ability to readily ferment carbohydrates to ethanol. A hybrid sequencing approach, combining Oxford Nanopore and Illumina DNA sequence reads, was applied to produce a single contiguous genome sequence of 2,911,280 bp.

The unconstrained evolution of fast and efficient antibiotic-resistant bacterial genomes.

Evolutionary trajectories are constrained by trade-offs when mutations that benefit one life history trait incur fitness costs in other traits. As resistance to tetracycline antibiotics by increased efflux can be associated with an increase in length of the Escherichia coli chromosome of 10% or more, we sought costs of resistance associated with doxycycline. However, it was difficult to identify any because the growth rate (r), carrying capacity (K) and drug efflux rate of E.