Bacteria and viral genetics Flashcards
Bacteria and viral genetics
Where is the bacterias genes found?
It’s circular bacterial chromosome
Bacteria and viral genetics
Where do you find a bacteria’s chromosome?
In the nucleoid
Bacteria and viral genetics
How does a bacterial chromosome fit inside the bacteria
Compacted by supercoiling
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Supercoiling (picture)
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what controls the DNA twisting in supercoiling of bacterial chromosome?
Topoisomerase enzymes
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Antibiotics can be used to target what part of the supercoiling process of compacting bacterial chromosomes?
Topoisomerase enzymes
Bacteria and viral genetics
At what point of the chromosome does DNA synthesis occur in bacteria?
The origin of replication
Bacteria and viral genetics
What term describes the DNA replication in bacteria
- Meaning
Bidirectional
- Goes both ways from the origin of replication
Bacteria and viral genetics
Bacterial DNA replication (picture)
Bacteria and viral genetics
Plasmids
Small cicrular pieces of DNA
Can replicate independantly of the bacterial chromosome
Not usually necessary for survival but can provide growth advantages
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5 types of plasmid
- Resistance plasmids (R factors)
- Degradative plasmids
- Col-plasmids
- Virulence plasmids
- Fertility plasmids (F factor)
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Resistance plasmids
Contain genes confer resistance against antibiotics and other types of toxins
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Degradative plasmids
Carry genes that eneable the bacterium to digest and utilise an unusual substance
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Virulence plasmids
Carry genes that turn a bacterium into a pathogenic strain
Maybe carrying a capsule protein
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Fertility plasmids
Allow bacteria to mate with each other
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Conjugation
Direct physical interaction transfers genetic material from donor to recipient cell
Bacteria and viral genetics
How do bacteria maintain diversity?
Mutations that may occur
Genetic transfer between bacteral cells
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Induced mutations
Mutagens can increase the mutation rate
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Mutagens
Chemical, biological and physical agents that may increase muation rate
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Possible causes of spontaneous mutation
Natural radiation
Free radicals from cellular oxidation
Errors during replication
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Point mutations
Alteration of a base pair of DNA
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Frame shift mutations
Deletion or insertion of DNA
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What is the potential consequences of a mutation?
New proteins could be produced
Proteins that don’t function properly are produced
Bacteria and viral genetics
Forms of genetic transfer between bacteria
Conjugation
Transformation
Transduction