Bacterial genetics Flashcards
Define the prokaryotic genome.
The main portion of DNA, along with associated proteins and RNA
Prokaryotic cells are haploid (single chromosome copy)
Describe the typical chromosome in prokaryotes
A typical prokaryotic chromosome is a single, circular, double-stranded molecule of DNA in a nucleoid.
It contains all the genetic information required by a cell.
What is the nucleoid?
DNA is tightly coiled around a protein-dense area called the nucleoid –>
central subcompartment in the cytoplasm where DNA aggregates
What is a plasmid?
Small circular, double-stranded DNA
Stable extra-chromosomal DNA elements that carry nonessential genetic information.
Duplicated and passed on to offspring.
Replicate independently from the chromosome
Plasmids may encode for enzymes responsible for what?
Plasmids may encode for enzymes responsible for antibiotic resistance, production of toxins, and tolerance to toxic metals.
Differentiate between F plasmids and R plasmids.
F plasmids allow genetic material to be transferred from a donor cell to a recipient.
R plasmids carry genes encoding for resistance to antibiotics
Plasmids are used in genetic engineering
because?
they are readily manipulated & transferred from cell to cell
F plasmids function?
F plasmids allow genetic material to be transferred from a donor cell to a recipient.
R plasmids function?
R plasmids carry genes encoding for resistance to antibiotics
What is genetic recombination?
Genetic recombination occurs when an organism acquires and expresses genes that originated in another organism
Genetic information in prokaryotes can be transferred in two ways, what are those ways?
vertically and horizontally
Vertical gene transfer (VGT)
transfer of genetic material from parent cell to daughter cell
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)
transfer of DNA from a donor cell to a recipient cell
What are the three types of prokaryotes’ genetic recombination?
- Bacterial conjugation
- Transformation
- Transduction
3 means for exogenous genetic recombination in bacteria: same as three types of genetic recombination in prokaryotes
- Conjugation
- Transformation
- Transduction