Figure 2.

Vertical versus horizontal inheritance of genes. For evaluation of the extent of laterally acquired genes we focused on the 10,109 AUGUSTUS gene models that have homologs in the NCBI nr protein database at a conservative E-value cutoff of 1.0E-30 (middle bar). A significant fraction of the vertically inherited genes (left) is not shared with the closest relative T. pseudonana, but rather with P. tricornutum. Genes acquired through mechanisms of lateral gene transfer (LGT; right) appear to be derived from diverse prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxons with the highest contribution by the green algal genus Micromonas.