Bacteria Flashcards
Describe the structure of a typical bacteria [3]
o70S ribosome (as with prokaryotes)
o NO membrane bound organelles/regions
o Plasmid- Small, Circular Extrachromosomal DNA
- May contain genes that confer advantages
e.g Antibiotics resistance
Define Binary Fission
Asexual Reproduction that produces genetically identical cells
Why is binary fission beneficial?
Selective advantage in stable, favourable environment where it can rapidly replicate & colonise
Describe the process of binary fission [6] (consider the reason for each step)
- DNA rep. begins at Ori → DNA unzipped by breaking H bonds btwn
complementary bases to form replication bubble - Semi-conservative replication of DNA as each original strand serves as template for
synthesis of daughter strands by complementary base pairing - The 2 newly formed Ori moves to opposite poles of cells & attach to plasma membrane
- As DNA is circular with no free ends, an interlocking structure formed by 2
daughter DNA molecule formed when rep. is completed - Topoisomerase cuts, separate & reseal the 2 DNA molecules
- Plasma membrane invaginates & new cell wall divides parent cell into 2
Point of comparisons between Binary Fission & Mitosis [5]
- End products
- Amt of DNA formed
- When does rep. occur?
- Process description (Chr Behaviour)
- Spindle Fibre involved?
Define Transformation
- Uptake of naked,
foreign DNA from
surrounding
environment → - genotype ∆, hence
- phenotype ∆
Define Transduction
- Process of which bacterial DNA from 1 host cell is
- introduced into another by a bacteriophage due to
aberrations in phage reproductive cycle
When does generalised/specialised transduction happen?
Specialised: Temperate phage infection…
Generalised: ANY phage
What is a temperate phage in the syllabus?
Lambda phage
Describe how does Transformation occur? [4]
- Foreign DNA
fragments from
dead lysed
bacterial cells
enter bacterium - Naturally
competent
bacteria1 have
cell-surface
proteins that
binds &
transport DNA
into cell - Foreign DNA
incorporated into
bacterial chr via
Homologous
Recombination,
forming a (con’t) - recombinant bacteria able to express new alleles → permanent ∆ in gen/phenotype
Describe how does generalised tranduction happen?
- Phage infects
bacterium, injecting
its viral genome
DNA into host cell - Phage enzymes
degrade bacterial
DNA into small
fragments. A small
fragment of
degraded host cell
DNA is randomly
packaged into
capsid during
assembly of phage
genome - Upon host cell lysis,
defective phage
released can infect
another bacterium,
injecting previous
host’s bacterial
DNA into new host - Foreign bacterial
DNA can replace
homologous region
of new host’s chr as
homologous
recombination
occurs - Recombinant bacteria able to express new alleles → permanent ∆ in gen/phenotype
Describe how does SPECIALISED transduction happen? [6]
- Temperate phage (lambda)
infects bacterium,
injecting its viral
genome into host
cell & viral DNA is
integrated into
bacterial chr,
forming prophage - Upon induction,
Viral DNA may be
improperly
excised to include
adjacent bacterial
DNA* - Phage-Bacterium
hybrid DNA may be
packaged in capsid
during assembly of
phage - Upon host cell lysis,
defective phage
infect another
bacterium - New alleles from
previous host can
replace
homologous region
of new host cell via
homologous
recombination (or
integrase
incorporate) - Recombinant bacteria able to express new alleles → permanent ∆ in gen/phenotype
Define conjugation [2]
- Direct transfer of genetic material from
- 1 F+
donor bacteria cell to another through
mating bridge to another F-recipient
bacterium
Describe how does conjugation happen? [5]
- Sex pilus of F+ bacterium makes
direct contact with F- cell & retracts
to bring the 2 cells closer - Hollow pilus act as cytoplasmic
mating bridge btwn 2 cells - 1 of the 2 strands of plasmid DNA is
nicked & transferred from F+ to F- cell via mating bridge via Rolling
Circle Replication - SS F plasmid DNA circularises in Fcell & is used as a template to
synthesize complementary strand - Recombinant bacteria able to express new alleles → permanent ∆ in gen/phenotype
Points of Comparison for Conjugation vs Transformation vs Transduction (General/specialised) vs Conjugation [4]
- Source of DNA introduced (phage involved?)
- Conditions
- Type of DNA transferred (random?)
- Homo Recombination?