Bacterial Genetics Flashcards
16S RNA gene
Gene for 16S RNA is unique for every bacteria, flanked by DNA that is same for all bacteria
e coli pyr- gal- amp
cannot make pyrimidine, cannot digest galactose, resistant to ampicillin
regulation of bacterial gene expression
nutritional status, cell surface sensing, quorum sensing
endemic
contagious disease present in population
epidemic
contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely
pandemic
epidemic that spreads internationally affecting significant proportion of the population
many endemic infections have declined with time due to
mutations, improved living conditions and hygiene, vaccines and antibiotics
how do you get rid of prions?
need to burn them, no chemical means available
plasmids
circles of DNA containing small number of genes that are not essential to the bacterium. extrachromosomal.
bacteriophages
viruses that infect bacteria and carry a small number of genes not essential to the bacterium. they may be chromosomal or integrated.
operon
bacterial genes with related function that share the same regulatory elements
how is bacterial expression regulated
by metabolic products or deficiencies directly
ames test
bacteria are used to predict if an agent could be a carcinogen
transformation
DNA released from dead bacteria taken up and incorporated into genome
allows the capsule gene of S. pneumonii to be transferred
conjugation
transfers many antibiotic resistant genes in intestinal bacteria
transfer via sex pili
