Bacterial and Viral Genetic systems

Question 1

Advantages fo using bacteria and viruses for genetic studies

Answer 1

1. Reproduction is rapid
2. Many progeny are produced, quickly
3. Growth in the lab is easy
4. Genomes are small
5. Technologies are available for isolating and manipulating their genes

Question 2

How to isolate bacteria

Answer 2

• To isolate bacteria outside of a lab, we can extract and ourify bacterial DNA
• each bacterial species has a unique 16S rRNA gene sequence that codes for a large portion of the small subunit in the ribosome
• we can determine how many species of bacteria exist in a specific area by counting the different DNA sequences

Question 3

Bacterial gene exchange

Answer 3

• Bacteria exchange genes through conjugation, transfomation and transduction

Question 4

Conjugation

Answer 4

• occurs when genetic material passs directly form one bacterium to another
• two bacteri lie close together and a connection forms between them
• a plasmid or part of the c/some passes from the doner to the recipient
• there’s no reciprocal exchange of genetic material

Question 5

Transformation

Answer 5

• occrus when bacteria take up DNA from the medium in which thery are growing
• after, recombination may take place between the new DNA and the bacterial genes

Question 6

Transduction

Answer 6

• occurs when pagecs carry DNA from one bacterium to another
• inside the bacterium, the newly introduced DNA may udnergo recombination with the bacterial c/some