4.5 Bacterial Transduction Flashcards
What is the process of bacterial genetic material being transmitted by viruses known as?
transduction
What were the experiments in the 1950s that showed transduction?
salmonella typhimurium; bacteria could transfer genetic material to each other in the absence of contact
How was the experiment using S. typhimurium conducted?
similar to the one for bacterial conjugation except the bacteria were grown in minimal media that were SEPARATED and could not physically touch
What does it mean that the experiment using S. typhimurium only showed growth in a unilateral direction?
only one type of bacteria received the genetic information needed to grow on minimal media
What was able to pass through the filter in the experiment using S. typhimurium?
prophages from the chromosome of one set of cells
What has transduction been helpful for?
mapping the bacterial chromosome
What is cotransduction used for?
bacterial chromosome mapping
What is cotransduction?
many genes that are transduced by prophages simultaneously
How long has phage therapy been used for?
over 100 years
What is an advantage of phages?
they can be engineered to be bacterium specific
How long is phage therapy needed for?
short term usage; sometimes even one dose
What is the benefit of phages that are bacterium specific?
can be used for phage therapy because they will not harm the good bacteria in the cells
What are two downsides of phage therapy?
scientists do not know the long term effects and they may cause phage resistance
Are there any phage therapies available for human use?
no
How has phage therapy been used so far?
in processed foods to prevent bacterial growth of common pathogens such as salmonella, listeria, and E coli
