The evolutionary history of life is often visualized as a hierarchical branching diagram, reflecting the descent of organisms with modification. However, this depiction can be an oversimplification. Genetic material can be transferred between distantly related organisms through processes such as horizontal gene transfer, viral transduction, and endosymbiosis. These lateral transfers of genetic information create a more complex and interconnected evolutionary narrative, where different genes within an organism may have different evolutionary origins.
Recognition of the prevalence and impact of these processes has led to a revised understanding of phylogenetic relationships. Instead of a strictly bifurcating lineage, the interconnectedness reveals a web-like structure. This revised perspective acknowledges that the genomes of many organisms are composites, reflecting contributions from diverse ancestral sources. This more accurate depiction emphasizes the dynamic nature of genome evolution and the limitations of relying solely on vertical inheritance models.
