MicroBio 14: Microbial Genetics Flashcards
The study of mechanisms of heritable information in microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and aome protozoa and fungi
Microbial Genetics
The discussion focuses on mechanisims of variation in bacteria to understand the evolution of new strains such as:
Anti-biotic resistant strains of bacteria
The genophore or nucleoid that carries genetic information (DNA) carried from the past generations
Bacterial Chromosome
Small extra-chromosonal DNA that contain some genes such as antibiotic resistance obtained through recombination
Bacterial Plasmid
Bacterial plasmid wherein its genes code for antibiotic resistance or poisons
Resistance plasmids
Important for bacterial gene transfers
Pilus
A bacterial plasmid that initiates bacterial conjugation
Fertility plasmid
Types of Bacterial Plasmids
- Fertility plasmids (F factor)
- Resistance plasmids (R factor)
- Virulence plasmids
- Metabolism plasmids
Bacterial Plasmids that enable digestion of unusual subtances like petroleum
Metabolism plasmid
Bacterial Plasmids that turn bacteria into a pathogen
Virulence plasmid
What are the genes encoded in a Bacterial plasmid
Promoter
- to drive target gene expression
Target gene
Antibiotic resistance gene
ex: Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Mechanisms of Gene Transfers in Bacteria
- Transformation
- Conjugation
- Transduction
a process of horizontal gene transfer where some bacteria take up foreign genetic material (naked DNA) from the environment
Transformation
which experiment initially links DNA as the genetic material? (transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae)
Griffith’s experiment
True or False: Conjugation is also termed as the transfer of DNA (depends on the presence of plasmid).
True
the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells by direct cell-to-cell contact or by a bridge-like connection (sex pilus) between two cells.
Conjugation
The genetic information transferred is often (beneficial or harmful) to the recepient.
beneficial
True or False: an example of conjugation is the gene transferred - antibiotic resistance gene.
True
the process by which foreign DNA is transferred from one bacterium to another by a virus or viral vector
Transduction
example of a microorganism that undergoes transduction
Bacteriophage
The Transduction Process
- Phage injects DNA
- Phage enzyme breaks down host DNA
3 - 4. Cell creates new phages, including phage and host DNA
5-6. Transducing phage inserts donor DNA - Donor DNA included in recipients chromosome due to recombination
