The characterization of bacteria that degrade organic xenobiotics has revealed that they can adapt to these compounds by expressing 'novel' catabolic pathways. At least some of them appear to have evolved by patchwork assembly of horizontally transmitted genes and subsequent mutations and gene rearrangements. Recent studies have revealed the existence of new types of xenobiotic catabolic mobile genetic elements, such as catabolic genomic islands, which integrate into the chromosome after transfer. The significance of horizontal gene transfer and patchwork assembly for bacterial adaptation to pollutants under real environmental conditions remains uncertain, but recent publications suggest that these processes do occur in a polluted environment.

中文翻译：

---

水平基因转移和微生物对异种生物的适应：新型的移动遗传元件和来自生态学的教训。

降解有机异源生物的细菌特征表明，它们可以通过表达“新”分解代谢途径来适应这些化合物。它们中的至少一些似乎是通过水平传输基因的拼凑组装以及随后的突变和基因重排而进化的。最近的研究表明存在新型异源生物分解代谢可移动遗传元件，例如分解代谢基因组岛，它们在转移后整合到染色体中。水平的基因转移和拼凑组装对于细菌在实际环境条件下适应污染物的意义仍然不确定，但是最近的出版物表明这些过程确实发生在污染的环境中。