“Patterns of homologous gene flow among genomes of 12 strains from a single hot spring in Kamchatka, Russia, demonstrate higher levels of gene flow within than between two persistent, coexisting groups, demonstrating that these microorganisms fit the biological species concept. Furthermore, rates of gene flow between two species are decreasing over time in a manner consistent with incipient speciation.”
This is a really cool paper analyzing speciation in action. It shows how microbes slowly become less likely to swap genetic information as they differentiate. A key concept, too, is that each species has its own genetic island.
Great stuff.
