Genetic Recombination Flashcards
How can plasmids benefit prokaryotes?
The extra genetic information can provide antibiotic resistance.
Plasmids can have virulence factors that increase pathogenicity: toxin production, projections that allow attachment to certain cells, etc.
what are episomes?
a type of plasmid that can integrate into the genome of the bacterium.
What is “transformation” in terms of prokaryotic genetic recombination?
When a bacteria takes in foreign genetic material, usually from another bacteria that broke open.
What is conjugation in terms of prokaryotic genetic recombination?
It is the bacterial form of mating.
What is a conjugation bridge?
An extension that allows genetic material to be transferred in bacteria.
In which direction does genetic material flow in a conjugation bridge?
from donor male (+) to recipient female (-)
What is the conjugation bridge made out of?
appendages called sex pili found on the donor male.
What is needed for a bacteria to make sex pili?
Plasmids known as sex factors.
What is the best-studied sex factor in bacteria?
The F factor (fertility) in E. coli
F+ and F- cells
What is the general process of transformation for bacteria?
F+ cells replicates the F factor, and sends the copy to the F- cell, which converts it to an F+ cell.
What is the difference between an F+ bacteria and an Hfr bacteria?
F+ has the F plasmid, Hfr have the F plasmid integrated into the genome (the chromosome)
It happens when the F factor is obtained in transformation.
