Some bacteria have very high species diversification with various phenotypes and genotypes. For example, Bacillus subtilis have a lot of subspecies and strains carrying different properties such as enzyme production. Strepmyces is another example with lots of species and subspecies. What are the reasons? Does it mean that those bacteria are more active in gene exchange? Does it mean they are evolutionary more dynamic than other bacteria?
This is a difficult question. We tend to ascribe variability within a given taxon to differing mutation rates between taxa and also to different selective environments, a given organism may live in.
All this may be true of course.
However, one of the major reasons for differences in variability is the species definition itself. Most of them, especially in the bacterial (and fungal) world are very broad, including many different genotypes and also different phenotypes. Other species have comparably narrower borders, and, consequently show lower variability.
Without knowing really a lot about the taxa to be comapred, reasonable opinions on variability are hard to establish. I recommend to be very cautious in this respect.
This is a difficult question. We tend to ascribe variability within a given taxon to differing mutation rates between taxa and also to different selective environments, a given organism may live in.
All this may be true of course.
However, one of the major reasons for differences in variability is the species definition itself. Most of them, especially in the bacterial (and fungal) world are very broad, including many different genotypes and also different phenotypes. Other species have comparably narrower borders, and, consequently show lower variability.
Without knowing really a lot about the taxa to be comapred, reasonable opinions on variability are hard to establish. I recommend to be very cautious in this respect.
This is only a guess. I would think that it would depend if the bacteria are a commensal type vs. a parasitic type of bacteria, or other "type". We like our "good" gut bacteria, but want to fight off the strep. Hence the regular habitat and the habitat's variability of the bacteria would dictate how diverse a species would be. I think your microbiologist can address much this better.
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