Accelerating Evolution: Neisseria spp.

The number of recently emerged, antibiotic resistant pathogens being discovered is accelerating. This is going to have profound and may be dramatic demographic and evolutionary consequences. Now we learn that the horrible N. Gonorrhoeae bacteria ("clap") has mutated and acquired a bit of human DNA. We dont know yet what the bacteria is doing with human DNA in its genome but it means that it can "control" us in many new ways. Remember there are parasites that cause mice to lose their fear of cats so they will be cought and eaten, allowing the parasite to complete its cycle in the body of the cat.

Researchers at Northwestern University say this is the first evidence ever seen of a direct transfer of DNA from human to bacteria. "This has evolutionary significance because it shows you can take broad evolutionary steps when you're able to acquire these pieces of DNA," Hank Seifert, Northwest professor of microbiology, said. "The bacterium is getting a genetic sequence from the very host it's infecting. That could have far reaching implications as far as how the bacteria can adapt to the host." Since bacteria and yeast cells transfer genes among themselves with ease, our DNA is now available to the whole microbiological kingdom.