bacterial genetic variation and manipulation

Question 1

what can single base mutations cause

Answer 1

nothing
amino acid change - missense
premature stop codon - nonsense
removal of stop codon - sense

Question 2

what is a frame shift mutation

Answer 2

nucleotide deletion or insertion which completely changes the amino acid sequence down stream from mutation.
renders protein non-functional and premature stop codon

Question 3

sources of variability

Answer 3

plasmids
prophages
pathogenicity

Question 4

what is conjugation

Answer 4

transfer of genetic material between cells by direct cell-cell contact

Question 5

conjugation process

Answer 5

donor cell attaches to a recipient cell with its pilus.
pilus draws cells together
cells contact one another
one strand of plasmid DNA transfers to the recipient
the recipient synthesizes a complementary strand to become an f+ cell
the donor synthesizes a complimentary strand restoring its complete plasmid

Question 6

what is transformation

Answer 6

transfer of DNA from the environment into competent recipient bacterial cell

Question 7

what are bacteriophages

Answer 7

bacteria eaters - viruses
encode genetic information for their own replication and proliferation

Question 8

why use bacteria to produce drugs

Answer 8

easily grown
cheap to grow
grow fast
easily manipulated in lab