Mechanisms of bacterial gene transfer

Question 1

What are the 3 types of mechanisms for bacterial gene transfer?

Answer 1

1) transformation
- lysis of donor cell releases DNA into a medium, donor DNA is taken up by recipient

2) Conjugation
- donor DNA is transferred directly to recipient through a connecting tube, contact and transfer are promoted by a specialised plasmid in the donor cell

3) Transduction
- bacteriophage infects a donor cell
- lysis of donor cell occurs, donor DNA is packaged in released bacteriophage
- donor DNA is transferred to a recipient cell when the phage particle infects recipient cell